Duebbert et al. examined the intensity of grazing on the nesting success of dabbling ducks in central North Dakota. The two main nesting habitats within the study area were the western snowberry/Wood rose vegetation and western wheatgrass sites. Mallards and gadwalls had 42% and 35% (respectively) of their nests in the snowberry/rose vegetation, and were hardly effected by grazing. Blue-winged teals had 37% of their nests within western wheatgrass sites. Areas of heavy grazing that resulted in less residual cover in the spring were sparsely nested by any species, while areas of light to moderate grazing were the most successful nesting areas. Duebbert et al. state that a successfully managed rotational grazing system, in this area, can maintain a healthy avifaunal population over time.
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