Wigeon vigilance on golf courses 109
©Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Wildfowl
(2013) 63: 105–114
other factors known to influence alert
behaviour in foraging waterfowl. There are
several potential explanations for these
findings.
As predicted, individual vigilance was
most strongly influenced by sexual
differences and distance from water. Males
were significantly more vigilant than females
when humans were present, but not in the
absence of human activity. This lends
support to the well-established suggestion
that males will become more alert during
relatively “risky” situations for reasons
related to mate guarding or protection
(Guillemain
et al.
2002). Vigilance also
increased as flocks grazed at greater
distances from water (
i.e.
from their refuge
habitat). American Wigeon foraging in rural
grass pastures are also known to increase
vigilance rates while foraging on land and
away from water, and excessive human
disturbance (such as direct approach to
within a few meters) would induce flock
responses (flying or quickly walking) to
ponds or lakes in the vicinity (Berl & Black
2011). Bregnballe
et al.
(2009) described a
Table 1.
Comparison between vigilance rates and maximum observed foraging distance
from water recorded for American Wigeon (AMWI) and Eurasian Wigeon (EUWI) feeding
in different habitats.
Species Mean
Max.
Habitat
Location
Reference
% time observed
spent
dist. from
vigilant
water
AMWI
6.8
80 m Suburban golf
Fallbrook,
This study
course
California, USA
AMWI
9.7
40 m Rural pastureland Arcata, California, Berl & Black
USA
(2011)
EUWI
c.
10.0
35 m Coastal tidal flats Conwy Bay, North Portugal &
Wales, UK
Guillemain
(2011)
EUWI 12.3–16.2
–
Protected area
Rochefort, France Guillemain
(wetlands)
et al
. (2002)
EUWI
–
50 m Rural saltmarsh
Danish Wadden
Larsen (1996)
Sea, Denmark
EUWI
c.
10.0
60 m Protected area
Solway Firth,
Mayhew &
(pasture)
Scotland, UK Houston
(1989)
