FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Aythya valisineria | Canvasback 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
Canvasback nests can be destroyed by fire during the nesting season [5].
During a spring fire in the Manitoba pothole region a canvasback nest
was destroyed by fire that swept over emergent vegetation.  The nest was
located 25 feet (7.6 m) from dry land in 24 inches (64 cm) of water [5].

Ducklings and molting adults are vulnerable to fire.  Nonmolting adults
can probably easily escape fire.


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
Fire can remove canvasback nesting cover [5].  Large-scale autumn
burning may have a detrimental effect upon marshes by reducing the
retention of drifting snow, which adds heavily to spring run-off.  The
ability of marsh vegetation to catch and hold snow is vital to marsh
survival [17].

Fire can also improve the habitat for canvasbacks.  Fire often removes
excessive accumulations of fast-growing hydrophytes, permitting better
waterfowl access and growth of more desirable duck foods [16].


FIRE USE : 
Fire can be used to remove fast-growing, undesirable species and
increase desirable canvasback foods such as pondweed [15].  Controlled
burning can also be used to create nesting edge for ducks.  Removal of
dense vegetation and woody encroachment is vital if prairie marshes are
to remain in this successional state [17].  According to Ward [17],
spring burning in marshlands is primarily done to remove vegetation and
create more nesting edge.  Summer fires are used to create more
permanent changes in the plant community.

Burning should be completed well before or after the nesting season to
avoid destroying nesting cover and nests of canvasbacks [17].  Land
managers who burn during the nesting season should consider partial
burns.  Partial burns will probably have less impact on total vegetation
changes but should result in higher recruitment of waterfowl than would
complete burning [18].


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Aythya valisineria | Canvasback