From the Field:

2008 Research Under Way

Nesting Success Research 

May 14th, 2008

The nesting season is underway across the Coteau with the first mallards and pintails either laying eggs in their first nests or just beginning to incubate their eggs. And our research crews are busily searching the prairies and finding nests. The number of nests located thus far among our crew areas is slightly lower than in years past mostly as a result of the dry conditions that exist across our research sites. The Woodworth crew has located 61 nests to date, the Goebel crew 52 nests, and 41 nests in our Stanley crew area. We expect blue-winged teal to begin nesting soon and other species like northern shovelers will not be far behind.

While in the field, we have observed multiple pairs of the same species of ducks sitting along the edge of wetlands along side one another. This lack of territoriality is a likely indication of depressed breeding effort as a result of scant shallow water available to provide high quality invertebrate food resources. Heavy rains could change that but breeding effort could be rather low this year if the current conditions hold.

What’s of greater concern is the long-term future of the critical habitats of the grasslands and wetlands. The Farm Bill is being voted on today by the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, the outcome of most of DU’s priorities for the Farm Bill does not bode well for maintaining these critical habitats. Look for a detailed statement of DU’s assessment of the Farm Bill soon.

During the next week nesting activity should continue to increase with blue-wings and shovelers joining the mallards and pintails. Hopefully the Coteau will receive some substantial spring rains to improve the wetland food resources to fuel a stronger nesting effort.