Anas americana: American Widgeon - RI - 2015

The American Wigeon's primarily nesting habitat is located in the Prairie Pothole Region, northwestern Canada, and much of Alaska. This species winters throughout much of the central US, and along the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts, as well as throughout Central America. Throughout North America, this species population fluctuates widely. As of 2013 the population was just below the long-term average of about 3 million birds in the traditional survey area (www.flyways.us). In Rhode Island, this species is more abundant during fall (mid-Sept to mid-December) than spring (early March to mid-April) migration. This species is uncommon in Rhode Island during the winter (mid-Jan to early March). In Rhode Island, this uncommon species is primarily detected in coastal ponds along the southern coast, in Upper Narragansett Bay, and rarely at a few interior lakes and ponds. Conservation concerns primarily are focused on breeding habitat conditions in the PPR. However, disturbance to foraging sites on their wintering grounds is the most relevant issue in Rhode Island, as well as harvest levels in the Atlantic Flyway. Management actions include minimizing disturbance at coastal wintering sites, and ensuring long-term adaptive management for harvest levels.