Effects of Commercial Forest Harvesting on the Distribution of the American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) during the breeding period in New Brunswick, Canada

Data were collected as part of a Masters of Science in Forestry Degree through the University of New Brunswick with anticipated completion in January 2020. Waterfowl observation data from 1995-2017 were collected during the helicopter based waterfowl breeding pair survey in Eastern Canada by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Waterfowl observation and artificial nest data from 2018 were collected by MScF student, Kelly McLean. Habitat data were provided via GIS by the New Brunswick Department of Energy and Resource Development. Habitat is summarized in files for both the ten and twenty year period following a wetland being surveyed. Artificial nests were created to mimic black duck nests, timing, and incubation period. A nest was considered "successful" if one or more eggs were remaining at the end of the trial period. Response variable of black duck presence/absence, or nest success/failure are binomial.