Construction and Management of Stockponds for Waterfowl

摘要

Stockponds are used by water fowl primarily as breeding and brood-rearing habitat. Birds other than water fowl may use stockponds for free water requirements, or because of the vegetation that grows around them. Pit reservoirs have steep banks a little shallow water. They are used by water fowl primarily for the establishment of breeding pair territories. Retention reservoirs have gently sloping shorelines and are the most valuable reservoir type to water fowl. Important pond characteristics are: (1) a minimum of 1.5 acres surface water at full capacity, (2) gentle shoreline slopes, (3) 40-50% of pond should be 2 feet deep or less, (4) sufficient depth in burrow area to reduce chances for total dry-up. Aquatic plants for food requirements will usually pioneer, precluding the need to plant islands are beneficial to nesting waterfowl. Continuous grazing qround stockponds is undesirable.