During spring migration, female waterfowl are focused on acquiring lots of food—carbohydrates to provide energy for migration and protein to produce eggs.
In mid April the first wave of breeding pintail and mallards arrived on the U.S. and Canadian prairies. They were followed in the later weeks of April by northern shovelers and green-winged teal, then redheads, canvasbacks, ring-necked ducks and lesser scaup. By the end of April even gadwall and the first wave of blue-winged teal begin to arrive.
What happened on the journey to the breeding grounds and what ducks find when they arrive plays an important consequences in the breeding success of this season.
While wetlands on the breeding grounds are vital to the distribution and annual effort of waterfowl production, other factors are crucial as well, including habitat quality and food availability in breeding, migration, and wintering areas. Waterfowl need energy rich foods along migration corridors to make the long journey to the breeding grounds. Likewise, without a diet rich in invertebrates during late winter and spring, hens may not acquire enough protein to complete their molt or have the protein they need to produce eggs.
Ultimately, if ducks arrive on the breeding grounds in poor condition they may delay nesting or forgo nesting altogether. Similarly, if the breeding grounds are dry or of poor quality nesting efforts including renesting may be diminished.
For geese chronology of spring thaws is also particularly important. When geese arrive on the breeding grounds in late spring years like 2009, they have to rely on stored body reserves acquired at migrational stopovers. The result is delayed nesting, fewer birds attempting to nest, lower clutch sizes, poor nest success and a fall flight with fewer immature geese.
While the breeding grounds are of the utmost importance to waterfowl, it is important to not overlook the impact quality habitat at every stop along the bird’s transcontinental journey has on the survival and ultimately reproductive potential of waterfowl.
So when you are wondering how things are going on the breeding grounds this year be sure to also consider the vital roles that wintering and migrational habitats play in getting the birds to the breeding grounds.
If you’re interested in learning more about the birds’ specific habitat needs throughout their life cycle, you’ll want to read Scott Stephen’s article, “The Amazing Journey.”
Stephens offers a compelling look at how the habitat challenges facing waterfowl today are continental in scope and how DU is focusing conservation resources on the areas most important to ducks.
As Ducks Unlimited’s Executive Vice President, Don Young likes to say’ “It’s a bit like having a diversified portfolio in your stock market holdings or 401k plan. In the duck habitat management business, DU is invested broadly across the entire continent, and we take a long term view to seek a steady return on investment for duck populations.”
Check Out:
The Amazing Journey
Delayed Goose Production in 2009
Where DU Works