The US Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) has experienced some of the highest rates of grassland loss in North America over a time that coincides with dramatic declines in grassland songbird populations yet increasing abundance of most grassland-nesting duck species except for northern pintail. To provide more insight into this contradiction, we propose to capitalize on long-term databases to evaluate how a key population driver nest survival for North American ducks has responded to system changes in the region including landscape and climatic factors. Outcomes of these analyses will contribute to testing primary conservation planning assumptions for the PPJV a vital component of the PPJV Strategic Habitat Conservation framework. Additionally, results will be used to improve and refine models used by PPJV and HAPET for grassland-wetland conservation planning. Without more insight into this contradiction, support may erode for waterfowl conservation and associated beneficial programs, which substantially benefit grassland songbirds, shorebirds, waterbirds, pollinators, and other wildlife.
