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Scholarship Recipient

Matthew Garrick


Matthew Garrick

Matthew Garrick

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Year Received: 2016

M.Sc. in Range and Wildlife Management

Nutrient reserve dynamics of female northern pintails wintering along the Texas coast

I grew up in New Zealand on a farm with a family of hunters. It was my father who instilled me with conservationist ethics, while also teaching me the importance of hunting as a management tool and a cultural past time. My passion for wildlife has only grown with my diversity of research and hunting experiences in New Zealand and throughout the United States, in places such as Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, and Texas.

My thesis research is focused on studying nutrition of northern pintails. Abundance of northern pintails has remained below long-term average population levels and well below population objectives established by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. A large proportion of pintails in the Central flyway winter along the Texas coast where changes in land use over the last few decades have greatly changed the capacity of the region to support wintering pintail populations. Preliminary results suggest pintails on the central Texas coast are catabolizing protein and fat throughout winter, and departing for breeding areas in poor body condition. Comparatively, pintails wintering on the upper Texas coast have heavier fat and protein stores, which are maintained throughout winter. This research is informing land managers on how northern pintails are responding to their management practices, and will guide future management decisions.

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