However, the second year after a fall burn, the available nesting cover is much taller and denser than on spring burn areas, and ducks had greater nesting success on fall burn plots. Areas recently burned are sometimes utilized by nesting waterfowl. No other duck species used this burned area. He stated that spring burning is more detrimental to early nesters such as mallard and pintail than to later nesting species. He also mentioned that mallards may be particularly susceptible to spring burns due to their preference for heavier cover which often burns.
Fire can benefit waterfowl in ways other than improved nesting cover.
Prescribed burning is used as a marsh management tool to burn out thick growths of cattails and phragmites. This increases the edge cover which improves brood habitat. The spring fires are set prior to April 20 when mallards and pintails begin nesting. The primary purpose of the spring fires is to create more edge for nesting and brood cover. Summer fires have a greater effect on regrowth and are directed toward lasting changes in the plant community.