Habitat use by juvenile female canvasbacks wintering on the upper Chesapeake Bay

During the winter 1988-89, diurnal and nocturnal habitat use by juvenile female canvasbacks wintering on the upper Chesapeake Bay was determined. Radio-implanted canvasbacks used shallow water (0-2 m) areas near artificial feeding sites during the day, and deeper water (2-6 m) that had an abundant (> 200/m²) population of small (< 25 mm) Macoma balthica at night. Because of poorer Macoma populations on the east side of the Bay, canvasbacks there may feed more during the day and are in lower Macoma densities at night than west shore canvasbacks. Management of Chesapeake Bay canvasback populations should focus on providing natural foods and rest areas.