Checkett Out

CRP continues to slip away…

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:34:43 GMT

Each year millions of ducks are produced onConservation Reserve Program grasslands.

Habitat losses mount in Prairie Pothole Region

With millions of acres of marginal cropland being removed from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to get down the maximum acreage cap set by the 2008 Farm Bill, the outlook for ducks and landowners is unclear. More than 1.3 million acres of CRP land has left the program in the Prairie Pothole Region alone, an area that once added more than 2.2 million ducks to the fall migration every year from CRP lands alone.

The cumulative impacts of grassland loss in the Prairie Pothole Region, both CRP and native prairie, at this magnitude, will eventually have significant impacts on waterfowl populations and the number of ducks that hunters see in their decoy spreads. In 2012 alone, North Dakota will lose more than 846,000 acres of CRP.

Nationwide, some 2.7 million acres of CRP, freed from contracts, are already being converted to farmland. Enough acres exited the program this year to fall below the nationwide enrollment cap, which was reduced from 39.2 million acres to 32 million acres in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Here's a look at the states where the most land is being released from the federal Conservation Reserve Program:

_ Texas, 3.85 million acres active; 644,025 acres expire in 2009; 698,313 expire in 2010; 683,991 expire in 2011

_ Montana, 3.2 million acres active; 245,925 acres expire in 2009; 410,487 expire in 2010; 497,236 expire in 2011

_ Kansas, 3.1 million acres active; 339,527 acres expire in 2009; 617,687 expire in 2010; 532,555 expire in 2011

_ North Dakota, 2.86 million acres active; 212,294 expire in 2009; 261,409 expire in 2010; 388.974 expire in 2011

_ Colorado, 2.41 million acres active; 434,060 acres expire in 2009; 464,062 expire in 2010; 346,132 expire in 2011

_ Iowa, 1.69 million acres active; 191,813 acres expire in 2009; 171,954 expire in 2010; 72,249 expire in 2011

_ Minnesota, 1.67 million acres active; 166,519 expire in 2009; 80,259 expire in 2010; 128,018 expire in 2011

_ Washington, 1.51 million acres active; 124,602 expire in 2009; 209,072 expire in 2010; 89,167 expire in 2011

_ Missouri, 1.4 million acres active; 45,398 expire in 2009; 152,701 expire in 2010; 197,535 expire in 2011

_ South Dakota, 1.2 million acres active; 202,152 expire in 2009; 151,761 expire in 2010; 125,612 expire in 2011

_ Nebraska, 1.18 million acres active; 134,338 acres expire in 2009; 187,552 expire in 2010; 151,482 expire in 2011

_ Illinois, 1 million acres active; 60,704 expire in 2009; 78,793 expire in 2010; 68,705 expire in 2011

_ Oklahoma, 960,839 acres active; 110,435 acres expire in 2009; 210,884 expire in 2010; 191,787 expire in 2011

_ United States, 33.65 million acres active; 3.41 million expire in 2009; 4.75 million expire in 2010; 4.42 million expire in 2011

The USDA is currently in the process of conducting a CRP Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, which is expected to be completed sometime during the fall of 2010. A general CRP sign-up cannot be held until the impact statement is completed.

Check Out:

Learn more about CRP losses

Learn more about CRP and other farm programs that affect waterfowl

DU warns of CRP loss effects

Ph.D. - Research Assistantship

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:36:56 GMT

Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University

Project title: Interaction of land use and wet/dry cycles on invertebrate populations in prairie wetlands: Implications for waterbird habitat conservation

A Ph.D. level research assistantship is available (dependent upon funding) to study abundance, distribution, and factors that influence populations of macroinvertebrates in prairie wetlands. This study will be a partnership among US Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ducks Unlimited Inc., and North Dakota State University. Particularly, the study will focus on how land use and climate variability influence wetland hydrology, amphipod populations, and introduced and invasive species (e.g., fish and cattails). The student will collect field data on approximately 200 wetlands throughout North Dakota and have access to an existing dataset collected on the same wetlands in 2004 and 2005. The goal of this study is to provide information to land managers about processes influencing productivity in wetlands. Thus, the study will have an applied focus, but include process- and spatial-ecology components. Stipend is approx. $20,000/yr and tuition likely waived. A search committee will make a selection in December; the starting date will be in February 2010. NDSU is an equal opportunity institution.

Applicants must:
· Be hard-working, motivated, and intelligent

· Have completed an undergraduate degree in ecology/wildlife biology (or related field), earned at least a 3.0 GPA, must have taken the GRE

· Have completed a MS degree in ecology/wildlife biology (or related field) or have demonstrated equivalent work experience

· Have excellent oral and written communication skills, preferably demonstrated by publication and presentations at regional or national meetings

· Have experience conducting and leading field studies

· Have the ability to work collaboratively and to supervise research assistants working in field and laboratory settings

· Possess a valid driver's license

· Be able to: walk over rough terrain, wade in wetlands and thick mud, and lift 50lbs over ones head

Specific experience conducing wetland sampling, invertebrate sampling and sorting, quantitative analysis, and GIS are highly desirable.

To apply submit the following: letter of interest, CV, college transcripts, GRE scores, and 3 letters of reference by no later than 13 December 2009 (early application is encouraged) to:

Michael J. Anteau (search chair)
Research Wildlife Biologist
US Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
8711 37^th St SE, Jamestown, ND 58401
Email preferred: manteau-at-usgs.gov

Conservation-boosting bill, vital waterfowl habitat bills become law

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:08:56 GMT

NAWCA was enacted in 1989 and provides Federal cost-share funding to support the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. NAWCA is a non-regulatory, incentive-based, voluntary wildlife conservation program.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) will be allocated a record funding level from Congress, as the President signed the Interior Appropriations bill for the 2010 fiscal year on Saturday. NAWCA is being appropriated $45.6 million, a $2.5 million increase over the 2009 funding level. The funding match requirement for NAWCA means the program will put at least $5 million of habitat on the ground over 2009 levels.

Other waterfowl programs that benefited from the new budget are the Neotropical Migratory Bird Act and the National Wildlife Refuge System, which saw an increase of more than $40 to the operations and maintenance budget. Maintaining National Wildlife Refuges is critical to waterfowl, as many use the areas to breed and winter across the country. The funding increase will help U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service staff continue to eliminate invasive species and improving habitat.

The NAWCA program and wetlands conservation recently reached a major milestone. On September 9, 2009 the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) program has allocated more than $1 billion in federal grants. A slate of projects approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission today pushed the program over the cusp.

In Washington, D.C., the Ducks Unlimited Governmental Affairs staff works with Congress in support of annual funding for NAWCA so we can keep building on the Act's waterfowl conservation success.

NAWCA provides challenge grants for wetlands conservation projects in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Every $1 of federal money allotted to NAWCA must be matched by $1 or more from non-federal sources like Ducks Unlimited, or state fish and wildlife agencies. Because this program is so effective, funds are often tripled or quadrupled at the local level.

To date, NAWCA has helped fund over 1,800 projects on over 24 million acres in all 50 states, areas of Canada and areas of Mexico. More than 3,000 partners, including private landowners, industry and state governments have worked together to conserve wildlife habitat through NAWCA grants.

Check Out:

Learn more about NAWCA

Migratory Bird Conservation Commission

Billionth Dollar in Grants Allocated

DU Conservation policy interns needed

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:12:30 GMT

Ducks Unlimited's Government Affairs Office is seeking two conservation policy interns to begin work before Jan. 1, 2010. Intern candidates should be extremely motivated workers, possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrate above-average computer skills and be able to work independently with minimal supervision. Knowledge of wildlife conservation, wetlands, congressional process and/or agriculture policy and practices is a plus. Work emphasis will be on communications and legislative process.

Our interns are responsible for assisting professional staff in promoting public policy initiatives affecting wetlands, waterfowl and agricultural conservation. Our interns gain valuable Capitol Hill and nonprofit experience through supporting efforts to educate members of Congress on the positive effects of conservation legislation and concepts.

Please send a cover letter and résumé to Whitney Tawney at wtawney@ducks.org.

Ducks Unlimited’s Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research Announces Fellowship competition

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:38:11 GMT

Ducks Unlimited’s Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research Announces Fellowship competitions for 2010:

1. The Edward D. and Sally M. Futch Graduate Fellowship

Ducks Unlimited's Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research is seeking applications from qualified students for the Edward D. and Sally M. Futch Graduate Fellowship. The purposes of this fellowship are to assist in the development of talented young professionals who are dedicated to furthering the conservation of wetlands and wetland wildlife, and to advance scientific understanding of the biology of waterfowl and wetlands in North America.

Mrs. Futch and the late Dr. Futch resided in Galveston, Texas and had a deep interest in the outdoors, especially in waterfowl and the wetlands that support them. They were vitally involved in the education of youth, tomorrow's leaders in science and medicine, through the University of Texas Medical Branch and elsewhere in the Galveston community. Their abiding interest in waterfowl and other wildlife took them to the far corners of the globe. Their appreciation of these resources and their understanding of the critical links between wildlife abundance, ecosystem integrity and the sound scientific management of wildlife habitat, led them to dedicate funds to support this fellowship. Mrs. Futch and the late Dr. Futch, an educator himself, took a special interest in the scientific work of Ducks Unlimited and were very proud to support this program for today's youth and tomorrow's environment.

One fellowship will be awarded in 2010. It is open to graduate students enrolled at any North American University. Subject matter for the student's research can deal with any aspect of waterfowl or wetland biology that promises to advance conservation.

Fellowships will be awarded based on the qualifications of the applicant, the scientific soundness of the student's research proposal, originality and creativity in study design, expected contributions of the research to furthering waterfowl conservation, and the achievability of the work.

One award of up to $7,000/year (U.S. funds) is available to provide personal or research support for the successful applicant. The award is renewable for up to two additional years for PhD students, once for MS students, assuming annual approval of a satisfactory progress report and the need for continuing financial support.

2. The Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation Wetlands and Waterfowl Research Fellowship

The Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation Wetlands and Waterfowl Research Fellowship was established in 2000 to support graduate students engaged in important waterfowl research. The fellowship reflects the support of Ducks Unlimited that began in 1941 by Spencer and Ann Olin. The Olin family has been a long-standing supporter of conservation and education. This generous support is carried on today by Olin family members through this fellowship.

The Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation Wetlands and Waterfowl Research Fellowship is an investment in young waterfowl professionals and is focused on two primary objectives: 1) developing critical scientific information that will contribute to the future conservation of waterfowl and wetland resources, and 2) contributing to the training of future professionals in the field of waterfowl and wetlands conservation. The ultimate objective is to ensure waterfowl and wetlands conservation through the contribution of career professionals. Research to date has included work on redhead duck foraging habitat in the Laguna Madre, mallard breeding ecology in the Great Lakes region, black duck winter and spring habitat use, and mallard duckling survival.

One award of up to $7,500/year (U.S. funds) is available to provide personal or research support for the successful applicant. The award is renewable for up to two additional years for PhD students, once for students pursuing a Master’s of Science degree, assuming annual approval of a satisfactory progress report and the need for continuing financial support.

How to Apply

Applicants automatically will be considered for any fellowship for which they are qualified. Thus, a single application will suffice. Applications must be received by November 20, 2009. Applicants will be notified of the results of the competition in January.

Fellowship applicants should submit the following materials (letters of reference can be sent separately):

· Research proposal, not more than 10 pages in length

§ The format for these is flexible, but should include an introduction to the problem, objectives and major hypotheses, the basic design of observations or experiments, general methods, a timetable, and literature cited.

· Proposed budget with a list of any secured matching support (including personal support) and other pending applications

· Brief statement of career objectives (<1 page)

· Resume of the student applicant

· Academic transcripts (photocopies are acceptable) and GRE scores (if available)

· A letter of endorsement from the applicant's advisor

· Two additional letters of recommendation

Send materials to:

Dr. David W. Howerter, Research Scientist
Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research
Ducks Unlimited Canada
P.O. Box 1160
Stonewall, MB Canada R0C2Z0
Email: d_howerter@ducks.ca
Phone: (204) 467-3292 FAX: (204) 467-3410

Electronic submissions are strongly encouraged. Electronic submissions greatly facilitate peer review and management of your proposal. Submissions via courier, regular mail and fax also are acceptable.

Izembek NWR Wildlife Biologist Position

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:21:12 GMT

Izembek NWR

Position opening: Wildlife Biologist GS-408-11

Location: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

1 Izembek Road

Cold Bay, Alaska 99571

Description: The incumbent serves as the Refuge Wildlife Biologist in charge of the biological program of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), headquartered at Cold Bay, Alaska. Izembek NWR administratively includes: Izembek NWR, Unimak Island of Alaska Maritime NWR, and Pavlof and North Creek units of Alaska Peninsula & Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. Refuge lands are located near the tip of the Alaska Peninsula and include the easternmost Aleutian Island, and are bounded by the Bering Sea to the North and the Pacific Ocean to the South. The refuge’s ecosystems comprise numerous lagoons, lakes, streams and wetlands; coastal dunes and rock cliffs; large expanses of tundra uplands; alder shrub land mosaics; and the rugged Aleutian Mountain Range.

Application period: Application for this position is open on Tuesday 6 October and closes Tuesday 20 October 2009.

How to apply: Go to http://www.usajobs.gov, refer to job announcements

R7-10-290996-KD

R7-10-291322-KD

Or go to the following link: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov

Questions: For more information about the position please contact Nancy Hoffman at 907.532.2445

Keep Track of Mallard Migration

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:31:18 GMT

The first cooperative mallard migration map is now up on the web.

Every week, over 100 biologists, wildlife managers and other experts rank the progress of mallard migration in their areas. They compile their data to bring you a map showing the status of the mallard migration.

Migration Map

The mallard migration observation network was established as part of a broader project to use GPS satellite telemetry to better understand mallard movements, distribution, and habitat use. The rankings provided by participants this fall will be compared with the locations of mallards marked with GPS satellite telemetry units to help determine if mallards carrying the additional weight of a transmitter display normal migration behavior.

Click to Enlarge

Participating agencies:

· Arkansas

· Illinois DNR

· llinois Natural History Survey

· Iowa

· Kansas

· Minnesota

· Mississippi

· Missouri

· Nebraska

· North Dakota

· Oklahoma

· South Dakota

· Texas

· DU Canada

· U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges and Wetland Management Districts

· Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservatory

· Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture

· Rain Water Basin Joint Venture

Additional funding provided by:

· Ducks Unlimited

· NRCS

· USFWS

· Central Flway Council

· Mississippi Flyway Council

Check Out:

Mallard Migration Study Area and Site Locations Map

Opening Day Migration Map

Early Fall Habitat Conditions in Canada

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:45:35 GMT

September has been warmer than normal in much of the Western Region, which may be delaying migration in some areas. While dry conditions in Alberta will result in a poor fall flight and hunt, conditions are more favourable in the Parklands of Saskatchewan as well as the pothole region of Manitoba. Conditions are also good throughout the Eastern Region. Record numbers of birds have been banded in some areas of Ontario and Quebec, and prospects for the fall are good in Atlantic Canada.

WESTERN REGION

British Columbia

Cooler fall weather has arrived on the coast, where rains are beginning to replenish the ground after a very hot, dry summer. Most river flows are near normal. Farmers on the lower mainland and Vancouver Island are harvesting their crops and planting cover crops that will provide food for waterfowl over the winter. Waterfowl, especially mallards and northern pintails, are now migrating down the Pacific Flyway and can be seen in local wetlands and estuaries. However, given sub-par production in some northern parts of theflyway, prospects for the fall flight are below normal.

In the central Interior, precipitation has been minimal and water levels continue to decline.

The hunting season is expected to be poor due to low production. Conditions are variable in the southern Interior. Most of the Thompson and Okanagan drainages are experiencing a very dry growing season, and only the Similkameen is having a near-normal year. Most large rivers are at 5 to 10 year lows. Conditions are fair overall in the southeast Interior, but vary from dry in the Columbia drainage to normal in the Kootenay drainage.

In the Peace region, conditions are still relatively dry. Precipitation has been 60-85% of normal since April 1, there is no soil moisture to speak of, and wetlands are at very low levels. Hunting season has started. There have been no major migration movements yet, although that will likely change this coming weekend when the temperature is expected to reach zero.

Western Boreal Forest

The Yukon is currently experiencing a late fall. Temperatures have been warmer than normal and precipitation has been above normal in some areas, including Whitehorse. There has been little frost thus far and only small amounts of snow are present in the hills. As a result, birds have not yet begun to move through.

Precipitation has been normal or above normal through much of the NWT. Norman Wells had the most precipitation (176% of normal), followed by Fort Simpson (166% of normal), Yellowknife (93% or normal), and Hay River (85% of normal).

Because of the dry conditions through much of northern Alberta, good hunting opportunities are few and far between. Ducks and geese are concentrating on large lakes and marshes, but the hot weather has delayed their arrival. However, there has been a big push of cranes this week, with a few snow geese starting to migrate through, so hunting opportunities should improve in the next couple of weeks. Precipitation has been far below normal through much of northern Alberta, including in Whitecourt (60% of normal), Cold Lake (59% of normal), Grande Prairie (49% of normal), and High Level (53% of normal). September has been warmer than normal in northern Saskatchewan. Temperatures above 30 C have been common and harvest is well underway. Precipitation in August was at or slightly above normal for many areas.

In northern Manitoba, the Pas region was colder and wetter than normal this summer. However, this trend was reversed in September, which brought warmer than average temperatures and less than normal precipitation. This has caused some frustration for hunters. Local hunting reports have indicated a lower than normal result with divers and "not bad" dabbler shoots. Moderate snow geese flocks have been stopping through the area, and one local hunter reported harvesting about three snow geese for every one ross’s goose.

Alberta

Growing season precipitation totals were average in the southern Prairie, and below average in the Peace Parkland, Boreal Transition Zone (BTZ), Aspen Parkland and northern Prairie.

This weather pattern, which is a continuation of the trend established in the fall of 2008, has continued into September.

While temperatures were generally average to slightly below average through August, September temperatures have been 5 to 10 C above average. There were light overnight frosts in early September, but no killing frosts have occurred to date.

In the southern Prairie, as is typical, most natural wetlands have dried but irrigation habitat is in good condition. Further north, dry conditions prevail and many semi-permanent wetlands are dry or have extensive mudflats. Conditions are poor throughout the Aspen Parkland and BTZ, although some isolated areas are faring better. The poorest conditionsare found in the Edmonton-Camrose area. The Peace Parkland has also been dry, and many larger wetlands and lakes are in a drawdown condition. Recently, there have been light overnight showers.

Overall, the current warm, dry weather is forecast to last until the end of September. The fall harvest is well underway throughout the province, and grains and peas are being combined. Canola has been slow to mature, so harvest is somewhat delayed. Pastures are generally in poor condition and surface water supplies for livestock are declining.

Waterfowl production was below average this year, so a below average fall flight and hunting season is anticipated. Field staff are reporting limited early season hunting opportunities because of the warm temperatures and dry conditions. White-fronted and snow geese are now moving into the province. Hunter reports indicate fewer immature geese, in both local and migrating groups, which is making hunting more of a challenge. The best hunting opportunities will be in the irrigation districts and in association with larger, more permanent wetlands and lakes.

Saskatchewan

Habitat conditions vary, with dry wetland conditions persisting in west central and southern areas, while the central Parklands are experiencing good wetland conditions. The province has experienced above normal temperatures in the past couple of weeks, with record highs being set in some areas. There have been some sporadic rains across the province, but these have only served to maintain wetland conditions.

The Missouri Coteau and the Prairies have generally been dry, while conditions are fair to good in the Parklands. Although field-feeding flocks of birds have been observed, harvest is one to two weeks behind and ducks are still on the larger bodies of water. The warmer temperatures over the last couple of weeks have helped to give farmers hope of getting their crops off the fields before the first frost.

Migrating sandhill cranes, snow geese and Canada geese have been showing up and their numbers continue to build. Interestingly, there are still a few flightless ducks, which could indicate that attempts were made to nest late into the summer. Hunting activity has been slow with the warmer temperatures, but will likely begin to increase in the next couple of weeks. There have been large numbers of hunters in the Melfort area, including several visitors from the US. Good snow goose and Canada goose hunts, as well as very good duck hunts, have been reported.

Manitoba

The frequent rainfall events and unseasonably cool temperatures of this summer have created favourable wetland conditions throughout most of the pothole regions of southwest Manitoba leading into the fall.

Wetlands remain in excellent condition in the Minnedosa / Shoal Lake pothole region and in very good condition in much of the Killarney pothole region. However, southern portions of the Virden pothole region have reduced wetland conditions and some Class IV wetlands are dry in the Virden area. More rain may be required in western portions of the pothole region to improve soil moisture conditions and secure a good frost seal.

Harvest has been delayed. Many producers south of Brandon have just finished harvesting cereal grains, while producers north of Brandon have just started combining recently. No fall tillage work is evident at this time. However, some winter wheat acres have been seeded where harvest is more advanced, primarily in the southernmost portions of the province.

The first three weeks of September brought continuous warm temperatures and blue skies. This was a welcome boost for the late harvest, as well as for the large number of late broods hatched this year, some of which will have just fledged within the past weeks. Snow geese and cackling geese have started to arrive but are still scarce.

Given the favourable wetland conditions and ample food supply, prospects for hunting should be great this year. Early season hunting reports indicate plenty of opportunities for large resident Canada Geese. Field-feeding mallards are now being observed, although birds seem very widespread and in smaller groups - likely a result of plentiful food sources. Mixed bagged hunts tend to be the norm at this time and success is reported as good.

EASTERN REGION

Ontario

As the fall flight gets underway, wetlands across southern Ontario remain plentiful and in good shape despite an almost month-long dry spell. The wet weather that inundated the southern region for most of the summer came to an abrupt end in late-August. Since then, much of the region has received less than 40% of its average rainfall. Fortunately, wetland habitats were in excellent condition in advance of this recent dry period and they continue to be at or near full supply.

The dyked coastal marshes along the shores of Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake St. Clair have all been readied in advance of opening day and their waterfowl numbers continue to build. Water levels in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, Lake Ontario, and Lake Huron have all continued their seasonal declines and all, with the exception of Huron, remain slightly above their respective long-term monthly averages. This should bode well for waterfowl and hunters alike. Corn maturity will be slightly behind schedule in most of the province, although recent temperatures have been favourable for this important waterfowl staple.

While many locations across northern Ontario received abnormally high rainfall totals in August, this region has also seen significantly drier weather in recent weeks. However, wetlands throughout the north remain in good condition for migrating waterfowl.

Waterfowl have been building on many inland and coastal marshes since mid-August. Good numbers of mallards, wood ducks, and even blue-winged teals have been reported on marshes across the province. Gadwalls, black ducks, green-winged teals, and wigeons have also begun to appear in small groups. Early banding results have been mixed. While record numbers of birds have been banded in some southwest locations, banding efforts in the near north have yielded little return, suggesting that 2009 was an average production year at best.

Overall, prospects for the fall flight and hunting season are considered good.

Quebec

Temperatures in August and September were average or warmer than normal for all regions, and were especially warm in Quebec City, Montreal and the eastern townships.

In August, total precipitation was below average for all regions except Saguenay-Lake-Saint-Jean, Cote-Nord and Abitibi in the north. Total precipitation has been very poor since the beginning of September. The mean water level at the St. Lawrence Sorel station was 11 cm higher than average in August.

Given the warmer September temperatures, the fall flight is slightly late this year. Waterfowl are just starting to arrive, but wetlands are in good condition. Banding results in the Lower St. Lawrence region revealed an American black duck juvenile-to-adult ratio of 1:8, which is lower than last year. Several duck flocks have been observed along the St. Lawrence River and in St. Peter’s Lake, and a good hunting season is expected throughout the province.

At Bylot Island, temperatures were favourable for a good banding season and a new record was set, with 5,400 greater snow geese banded. The juvenile-to-adult ratio was 1.07, which is higher than the long-term average of 1.04. The percentage of goslings this fall should be around 25%, which is slightly higher than the long-term average of 23%.

Results were not so encouraging at Ellesmere Island, where the mean snow goose clutch size was lower than the mean of the last two years. The percentage of successful goslings in the fall flight population might be lower than 25%.

Atlantic Canada

Early spring production was successful, with many reports of early and healthy broods of American black ducks, mallards and Canada geese. Habitat conditions were optimal for these early nesters, with many seasonal wetlands and reasonably warm, dry weather.

However, later nesters (American wigeons and ring-necked ducks) had their reproductive efforts delayed due to unseasonably low temperatures. Some of these late breeders, as well as late re-nesters, can still be observed with older young.

Banding efforts indicate that birds are moving to the coast and the south later than usual.

Many areas are occupied solely by local birds, with few migrants observed as of yet.

Overall, annual production can be classified as good. Hunters can expect to see good populations of local birds, and a slightly later flux of migrants. Field reports indicate that large numbers of blue-winged teals are remaining in the area, possibly because their reproductive efforts were delayed. The early goose season in New Brunswick was embraced by many successful hunters, who focused primarily on large flocks in agricultural areas.

Prospects for the fall season look promising as well.

Prepared by Meagan Hainstock, based on reports provided by the following field contacts:

? British Columbia – Bruce Harrison

? Western Boreal Forest – Brent Friedt

? Alberta – Ian McFarlane

? Saskatchewan – Michael Hill

? Manitoba – Mark Francis

? Ontario – Scott Muir

? Quebec – Patrick Harbour

? Atlantic Canada – Adam Campbell

A Couple DU Job Postings

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:18:50 GMT

Job Opportunity #1

Regional Biologist

The Western Regional Office of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) is soliciting resumes for an experienced Regional Biologist headquartered in Rancho Cordova, CA. The incumbent will become part of a team responsible for conserving, enhancing, and restoring wetlands and associated habitats in California’s Sacramento Valley.

Qualifications

Candidates must have at a minimum, a Bachelor of Science degree in a natural resources field. An advanced degree is desirable. Applicants must have at least five years of relevant experience. Applicants must have a working knowledge of wetland ecology; waterfowl, shorebird, and water bird biology; and state and federal wetland conservation programs, policies, and laws. Demonstrated experience with various state and federal regulatory requirements (e.g., California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Clean Water Act) as they relate to wetland restoration and enhancement is beneficial. Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to use personal computers are required. Proven proposal/grant writing skills, project management capabilities, and wetland restoration and enhancement experience are desired. Familiarity with the Sacramento Valley’s biological resources, local and regional environmental issues, and private and public stakeholders is beneficial.

Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent’s duties and responsibilities will include initiating and managing/delivering wetland enhancement and restoration projects; representing DU at wetland conservation venues; providing technical support to DU’s land protection program; and other conservation activities. Project initiation duties include identifying potential projects, developing/maintaining relationships with public and private landowners and agencies that may partner with DU to enhance and restore wetlands, and identifying and securing funding for project work.

Project management/delivery duties include coordinating with landowners and other stakeholders, DU engineering staff, consultants, and permitting agencies to ensure timely and on-budget delivery of projects. Negotiation of project agreements, report writing, budget management, biological technical assistance, and entering project tracking data in DU’s business information system would also be required.

The Regional Biologist will write and submit proposals to various agencies, foundations, and other funding sources to secure project funds. Incumbent will also establish and maintain relationships with key DU volunteers and development staff and provide DU management with timely communication on project work and issues in the area.

Evaluation of candidate qualifications will begin October 30, 2009. Open until filled.

Application:

Applicants should send a letter and a resume, by mail or e-mail to:

Debby Jones, Executive Assistant
Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Western Regional Office
3074 Gold Canal Drive
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Email: djones@ducks.org

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V

Job #2

Environmental Compliance/Permitting Specialist

The Western Regional Office of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) is soliciting resumes for an experienced Environmental Compliance/Permitting Specialist headquartered in Rancho Cordova, CA. The incumbent will become part of a team responsible for conserving, enhancing, and restoring wetlands and associated habitats in California, Nevada, and Utah.

Qualifications

Candidates must have at a minimum, a Bachelor of Science degree, preferably in an environmental planning or natural resources related field. An advanced degree is desirable. Applicants must have at least five years of relevant experience. Applicants must have demonstrated competency in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act; National Environmental Policy Act; Clean Water Act Sections 401, 402, and 404; National Historic Preservation Act; California and Federal Endangered Species Acts; and California Fish and Game Code 1600.

Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to use personal computers are required. Project management experience is desired. Familiarity with wetland ecology, restoration, and enhancement; and waterfowl, shorebird, and water bird biology and the ability to conduct wetland delineations are beneficial. Pertinent experience in California is strongly preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent’s duties and responsibilities will include identifying environmental compliance and permitting needs for habitat restoration and enhancement projects, preparing the appropriate state and federal compliance documents (e.g., Categorical Exclusion, Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan) and securing the required permits (e.g., Water Quality Certification, Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 404 Permit) for those projects, and managing consultants that are preparing compliance documents and securing permits for DU projects. Incumbent will coordinate compliance and permitting work closely with DU’s biologists and engineers and the appropriate regulatory agency personnel to ensure timely and on-budget delivery of projects.

Incumbent may also manage projects that have a significant environmental compliance component; assist with identifying potential sources of funds for project work; and write and submit proposals to secure project funds. Management duties include negotiating project agreements, tracking budgets, writing reports, coordinating with project partners and stakeholders, and entering project tracking data in DU’s business information system.

Evaluation of candidate qualifications will begin October 30, 2009. Open until filled.

Application:

Applicants should send a letter and a resume, by mail or e-mail to:

Debby Jones, Executive Assistant
Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Western Regional Office
3074 Gold Canal Drive
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Email: djones@ducks.org

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V

Waterfowl-Wings in Action

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:21:59 GMT

Differences in wing size and shape determine the flight capabilities of waterfowl

From the raw speed of canvasbacks to the limb-dodging acrobatics of wood ducks, the flight capabilities of waterfowl have long inspired awe among hunters. As with all birds, a duck’s flight characteristics are determined by the shape of its wings and the way it uses them. But biologists generally divide bird wings into four categories: slotted high-lift wings, elliptical wings, high aspect-ratio wings, and high-speed wings. Waterfowl are in the high-speed category, but there are differences among species that have this wing type.

All waterfowl species are suited to particular habitats, and it is easy to see how these varied environments, which present unique flight challenges, influenced wing evolution. Most puddle ducks frequent small marshes, sloughs, and flooded bottomlands. As a result, puddle ducks need large wings for fast takeoffs and twisting flight to dodge trees and other obstructions. But diving ducks frequent open lakes, rivers, and coastal bays, so they need wings built for flying at high speed over open water. Consequently, the wings of diving ducks need to be flatter than puddle duck wings, moderately long and narrow, and swept back like the wings of a fighter jet.

Muscles, joints and feathers all work together when a bird takes to the air. During flight, each feather labeled above performs a specific duty to keep the bird aloft.

Looking at how each part of a wing functions offers insight into the flight dynamics of waterfowl (see diagram on page 29). Primary flight feathers are rigid and provide thrust while flapping. Secondary flight feathers are shaped to give lift for gliding. The vanes of flight feathers have tiny hooks called barbules that zip together, giving the feathers the strength needed to form an airfoil. Wing coverts are softer than flight feathers and create a smooth surface for the air to flow over the wing, providing lift and keeping the bird flying efficiently. This feather arrangement gives a high-resistance down stroke and a low-resistance upstroke.

Flying is essentially a balance between two sets of forces: lift and weight, and thrust and drag. As a bird flaps its wings, most of the lift and propulsion is generated on the down stroke of the wings. But lift is also obtained from the secondary flight feathers as the wings are raised.

The size of the wing determines how much lift is generated. A species’ body size and weight influence the size of wing needed for flight and dictate “wing loading,” which is the ratio of wing area to body weight. The larger the wing surface in proportion to the bird’s weight, the more easily the bird can become airborne. Wing loading determines the size limits of flying birds and puts severe constraints on nearly all large birds. It is easier for small birds to have wings big enough to support their weight than it is for large birds. For a Canada goose to have the same wing loading as a cardinal, the goose’s wings would need to be nearly 10 times larger than they are. Wings of such gigantic proportions would be both physiologically and mechanically impossible. Because large waterfowl such as Canada geese and swans have high wing loading, these birds must make extended runs across the water to reach the speed necessary for takeoff.

Deficiencies in wing loading can be compensated, up to a point, by how rapidly a bird flaps its wings. Birds with small wings relative to body size, such as ruddy ducks, have high wing loading and must beat their wings rapidly to stay in flight. But ducks with larger wings in proportion to body size, such as mallards, have low wing loading and can beat their wings more slowly and still remain airborne.

The shape of a wing is also important, whether it belongs to a bird or an airplane. Air goes above and below the wing during flight. Air flowing over the upper surface of the wing has to move farther than the air flowing under the wing. In order for the two air flows to reach the edge of the wing at the same time, the air flowing above the wing must go faster, creating lift.

Takeoff and cruising speed are dictated by the aspect ratio of a bird’s wing. Aspect ratio is wing length divided by wing width. Mallards and other puddle ducks have a lower wing aspect ratio than many diving ducks. Because a puddle duck’s wings are typically large in relation to body size and have a lower aspect ratio, most puddlers can spring into flight and make sharp turns.

Puddle duck wings, however, are less efficient for achieving sustained high-speed flight. Since a diving duck’s wings have a higher aspect ratio and are smaller in proportion to body size and weight, divers have to run across the water to take off and must flap their wings more rapidly to achieve flight. High-aspect wings allow diving ducks to attain faster flight speeds than most puddle ducks but do not afford maneuverability in tight spaces.

The size and shape of a wing give it different aerodynamic properties, which in turn give birds varying flight capabilities. Since all ducks have high-speed type wings, they must flap nearly continuously, regardless of wing size. While this is the most energetically expensive form of flying, it is also the most reliable for species that make long-distance migrations. Ultimately, wings enable ducks and other waterfowl to take off, sustain flight, and exploit specific habitats, all of which have important consequences for their survival.

Check Out:

Waterfowl Biology

Graduate Research Assistantship - Sea Ducks

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:02:56 GMT

M.Sc. or Ph.D. - Research Assistantship in Seaduck Spatial Ecology
Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island

Project title: Spatial ecology of seaducks in relation to key habitats in southern New England.

A research assistantship is available at the M.Sc. or Ph.D. level to study the distribution, abundance, and movement patterns of selected seaducks in offshore habitats in southern New England during the bird’s winter and staging periods. Satellite radiotelemetry will be combined with extensive boat-based and aerial-based surveys to determine (a) current distribution and movement patterns of seaducks in Rhode Island’s nearshore waters, offshore waters, and Narragansett Bay, (b) the temporal pattern of these movements in relation to key offshore habitats, (c) the route and destination of sea ducks departing Rhode Island and migrating to their breeding areas, and (d) how daily movement patterns and habitat use of seaducks affects the designation of offshore areas suitable for wind turbine placement. This study is part of a larger university-state agency collaborative effort to designate offshore areas suitable for wind turbine placement while attempting to minimize or avoid impacts to key natural resources.

Qualifications: Only hard-working, motivated, intelligent, good-natured persons interested in seaducks need apply. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree in animal/wildlife biology or ecology, earned at least a 3.2 GPA, must have taken the GRE, and must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Field experience with seabird capture and handling, techniques for censusing seabirds, radiotelemetry, and GIS is highly desirable. Experience with quantitative analysis and field research is required. Ability to work collaboratively and to supervise research assistants and undergraduates working in the field is also required. Stipends are approx. $20,000/yr and tuition is paid. Starting date is January 2010 (earlier employment as a research associate is possible).

To apply submit the following: a letter stating your qualifications and research interests, a resume or CV, college transcripts, GRE scores, and 3 letters of reference by no later than 15 October 2009 (early application is encouraged) to:

Dr. Scott R. McWilliams & Dr. Peter Paton
Dept. Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
401-874-7531; srmcwilliams@uri.edu

See the following websites for further information about the research and training program of the Department (http://nrs.uri.edu/ ), of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences ( http://www.uri.edu/cels/ ), and of the University of Rhode Island (http://www.uri.edu/ ).

Ushering in fall

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:35:59 GMT

Snow geese flock to a harvested wheat field in southern Saskatchewan (October 2008).

October is almost here and with it generally comes freeze-up in the far north; many ducks and geese begin to move to the southern prairies of Canada and the United States. And, many American hunters head north for the bountiful waterfowling opportunities in Canada. Right now, the last mallard young from late nests begin taking flight while blue-winged teal, gadwall, wigeon, and green-winged teal are already migrating south.

The end of summer is a busy tiume for waterfowl. Learn more about this time period in an article by DU biologists Johann Walker and Dr. Scott Stephens

Summer’s End

After the breeding season, ducks must molt and must build energy reserves in time for fall migration

As summer wanes, many people are busy with last-minute vacation plans, and some are beginning to prepare for the upcoming fall hunting season. Late summer is also busy for ducks. In July, August, and September, post-breeding adult birds and newly fledged young ducks undertake a host of activities that prepare them for fall migration.

The late-summer period between breeding and fall migration is not as well studied as the nesting and brood-rearing periods. Nevertheless, biologists know plenty about the habitat and nutritional requirements of ducks and their efforts to fulfill those needs. In late summer, there are important differences in habitat use and movement among adult males, adult females, and young birds.

Once most nesting females begin incubation and renesting activity wanes, adult drakes leave breeding areas for molting locations. Because of their early start, they are able to make long-distance molt migrations. They gather on permanent wetlands that have both emergent vegetation (where a flightless duck can hide from predators) and abundant, high-protein food (to facilitate rapid regrowth of flight feathers). These areas allow adult males to safely make it through one of their most vulnerable periods. Drakes often congregate and molt in the Canadian parklands or boreal forest far from prairie breeding areas. This interdependence among breeding and molting areas underscores the importance of maintaining diverse wetland communities across the prairie/ parklands and boreal forest.

If adult females fail to hatch a nest relatively early in the breeding season, they may forego further nesting attempts and make molt migrations similar to those of adult males. But adult females that lose a nest or brood later in the breeding season, as well as those that successfully hatch a nest and raise a brood, are likely to molt on or near breeding wetlands. Because these females have been occupied with breeding activities later into the summer, they don’t have enough time or energy reserves to make regional movements to molting areas before falling temperatures force them to migrate south. Regardless of whether adult females breed successfully, they need the same types of molting habitat as adult males: wetlands with extensive stands of emergent vegetation and abundant high-protein food.

Hens that successfully raise a brood must contend with complex time constraints. To survive until the next breeding season, they must molt and must replenish nutrient reserves before migrating south. As a result, some may abandon their brood when the ducklings are close to fledging. A hen is more likely to abandon her brood early when wetland conditions are either very good or very poor, when her body condition is poor, and when few ducklings remain in the brood. She must weigh the costs of staying with her brood longer to increase their chance of survival against the benefits of safely molting her flight feathers and recovering her body condition in time for a successful migration. The choice represents a trade-off between current reproduction and future survival and reproduction. When wetland conditions are poor and ducklings have low chances of survival, a female might choose to abandon her brood, move to a more favorable location for molting, replenish her nutrient reserves, and undertake migration in better shape. Under this scenario, the female is choosing to relinquish her current reproductive effort in favor of increasing her odds of surviving to try again next breeding season, when conditions may be more favorable for brood survival.

Young ducks that have recently fledged have just grown their first set of flight feathers, so they will not undergo a molt to replace them for another year. The challenge for young birds is to build fat reserves to fuel their first migration south. Once they are capable of flight, many young ducks may move from the grassland-dominated areas where they were hatched to areas with more cropland, where high-calorie waste grain is readily available. DU biologists engaged in long-term research in the Missouri Coteau of North and South Dakota have observed that some grassland-dominated nesting areas have large numbers of duck broods in July but are nearly devoid of ducks during August. Because of changes in the birds’ physiological needs and diets, large flocks of ducks can be seen in intensively farmed areas in the early fall, even though such areas are typically poor locations for producing ducklings.

Differences in movement patterns and habitat needs between adult and young birds translate into different migration patterns in the fall. Waterfowl hunters across northern breeding areas may notice these differences during the early hunting season. In many cases, only local breeding adult females and young birds of both sexes are present in these areas early in the fall. As a result, some flocks of early-season mallards may contain very few conspicuously colored greenheads. But as the fall progresses, the young males continue with the molt of their body feathers, developing the characteristic green head, while migrations of adult drakes begin to show up and balance out the sex ratios.

Although less is known about the late-summer period than most other parts of the annual life cycle of ducks, biologists think that most of the behaviors and movements of ducks during this time are governed by the need to prepare for the rigors of migration, the demands of flight feather replacement, or both. The various strategies employed to meet these needs and demands further illustrate the adaptability of these amazing birds.

Johann Walker is a regional biologist and Dr. Scott Stephens is director of conservation planning at DU’s Great Plains Office in Bismarck, North Dakota.

National Hunting and Fishing Day

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:19:34 GMT

Riley, John and Luke Churan - Chillocothe, Missouri

National Hunting and Fishing Day - Saturday, September 26, 2009

Do you remember your first fishing, hunting or boating trip? Although it was more than 30 years ago I still have vivid memories of my first fishing trip for bass and bluegill with my grandfather. I can remember the excitement and expectation the night before and the tug of that first fish on my line, exciting indeed.

One of the great annual traditions in the outdoors, National Hunting and Fishing Day, is set for tomorrow.

For the past 38 years, the day has served as a public reminder that hunters and anglers are America’s premier conservation supporters. Through licenses and excise taxes, they now generate $100,000 every 30 minutes for fish, wildlife and habitat programs—benefiting all citizens who appreciate wild things and wild places.

Preserving our sporting traditions is the key to ensuring healthy habitats for wildlife in the future.

DU spreads the conservation message to hundreds of thousands of sportsmen each year. And through its support of other organizations, like the National Shooting Sports Federation, the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, the International Hunter Education Association, and others, DU is helping preserve our hunting and shooting traditions for generations to come.

Make sure you do your part and help recruit future hunters and conservationists by introducing someone to the outdoors this season.

Ben and Mark Petrie - Vancuver, Washington

Top 5 ways to observe National Hunting and Fishing Day 2009:

1. Introduce a newcomer to the outdoors.

2. Visit your sporting goods retailer, treat yourself to a new piece of hunting, fishing or shooting gear, in particular a new firearm (Taxes paid on sporting arms and ammunition are used to support a variety of wildlife projects, including acquisition and improvement of wildlife habitat. See Pittman-Robertson Act.)then get outside and enjoy it.

3. Organize, volunteer or attend a National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration in your area. Many event listings are posted at www.nhfday.org.

4. Remember those whose service to our country will prevent them from joining us afield this fall. Appreciate the freedoms that make hunting, fishing, shooting and conservation possible.

5. Log on to www.nhfday.org to learn more about the historic conservation leadership of hunters and anglers. Share the story with non-hunters! While online, enter to win a new ATV or bid on National Hunting and Fishing Day commemorative items.

Get outside and make every day National Hunting and Fishing Day! Have a wonderful and safe season!!!

Check Out:

Hunter Green - The People Behind a Conservation Success Story

National Hunting and Fishing Day Website

Hunting Facts

Ducks Unlimited and Hunting

Zuginruhe – Ducks on the Move

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:53:30 GMT

Canada geese flying in "v" formation.

It’s that time of year when changes in climactic conditions and daylight have migratory birds experiencing Zuginruhe, the German term for pre-migratory restlessness exhibited by birds. This could easily describe the restlessness shared by waterfowl hunters awaiting the next major migration.

Here are a few interesting migration facts to ponder as you fight off Zuginruh, waiting for the next migration event:

Severe weather will occasionally trigger a mass migration of waterfowl known as a grand passage. In early November 1995, millions of migrating ducks and geese jammed radar systems and grounded flights in Omaha, Neb., and Kansas City, Mo., following a severe blizzard in the Prairie Pothole Region to the north.

A pair of lesser Canada geese in British Columbia.

Most waterfowl fly at speeds of 40 to 60 mph, with many species averaging roughly 50 mph. With a 50-mph tail wind, migrating mallards can travel 800 miles during an eight-hour flight. Studies of duck energetics have shown that a mallard would have to feed and rest for three to seven days to replenish the energy expended during this eight-hour journey.

The fastest duck ever recorded was a red-breasted merganser that attained a top airspeed of 100 mph while being pursued by an airplane. This eclipsed the previous speed record held by a canvasback clocked at 72 mph. Blue-winged and green-winged teal, thought by many hunters to be the fastest ducks, are actually among the slowest, having a typically flight speed of only 30 mph.

The long-distance flying champions of all waterfowl are black brant, which migrate nonstop from coastal Alaska to their wintering grounds in Baja California—a journey of roughly 3,000 miles—in just 60 to 72 hours. The birds lose almost half their body weight during this marathon flight. Pintails raised in Alaska and winter in Hawaii make a similar trans-Pacific flight of about 2,000 miles.

Ducks usually migrate at an altitude of 200 to 4,000 feet, but are capable of reaching much greater heights. A jet plane over Nevada struck a mallard at an altitude of 21,000 feet—the highest documented flight by North American waterfowl. And a 1954 climbing expedition to Mount Everest found a pintail skeleton at an elevation of 16,400 feet.

A pintail banded in 1940 in Athabasca, Alberta, survived until January 1954 when it was shot near Naucuspana, Mexico, roughly 3,000 miles away. If this pintail migrated between these two locations every year throughout its known lifetime, the bird would have logged nearly 80,000 air miles.

Check Out:

Why do birds fly in a "V" formation?

DU Waterfowl Migration Map

Remembering the Passenger pigeon

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:59:48 GMT

On this date, Sept. 14, 1914 the last remaining passenger pigeon died at the Cincinnati Zoo.

The Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was once probably one of the most common birds in the world. The Smithsonian reports that the extinction of the passenger pigeon is a poignant example of what happens when the interests of man clash with the interests of nature. It is believed that this species once constituted 25 to 40 percent of the total bird population of the United States. It is estimated that there were 3 billion to 5 billion passenger pigeons at the time Europeans discovered America. Flocks were often so dense that they darkened the sky for hours and days as the flock passed overhead.

How could so many birds disappear? Over-harvest and habitat loss, one bird and one acre at a time.

The one valuable result of the extinction of the passenger pigeon was that it aroused public interest in the need for strong conservation laws. Because these laws were put into effect, we have saved many other species of our migratory birds and wildlife.

While modern day management and conservation efforts by managers, hunters and waterfowl enthusiasts will never allow such a drastic endpoint (such as extinction) to occur, we must be diligent in our conservation efforts to maintain enough habitat to ensure viable and huntable populations of all species.

Waterfowlers must remember. Habitat affects the size of the harvestable surplus!

It will be up to this current generation to ensure the future of North American waterfowl.

Can we influence the future of waterfowl and hunting?

The straightforward answer to that question is “YES!”

As Dr. Scott Yaich, director of conservation operations at DU’s national headquarters in Memphis, said in a recent DU magazine article (Ducks 2050),

“There are indeed things that we cannot change. But we can influence many other things if we collectively choose to act upon the ones that are most important to waterfowl. The needs are urgent. If we are going to secure our own future, we cannot put off taking action; we cannot assume “someone else” will take care of it.”

“Someone else” is busily shaping our future for us right now, so it is important that each of us acts now.

How can you shape the future?

· Each of us must take action if we are to secure the future of waterfowl and hunting. Continue to buy hunting licenses and duck stamps, and keep hunting. This provides financial support that government agencies depend on to conserve and manage waterfowl habitats and hunting areas.

· Follow policy issues important to waterfowl and make your elected officials aware of your concerns. The policies that our elected officials establish on a range of issues can greatly affect waterfowl. Periodically check the Policy Page on the DU website for information on key issues and ways you can help.

· Take a young person hunting–again and again. Each of us must be more active in recruiting future hunters. There will not be a strong commitment to conservation without a personal connection to the outdoors. Maintaining hunter numbers is also important for influencing policy.

· If you’re a landowner, you can do many things–conserve wetlands and other habitats, granting hunting access to friends, and manage lands to store carbon. If you’re not a landowner, offer to help a landowning friend.

· Support Ducks Unlimited. DU focuses all its energies on the conservation, policy, and scientific research that is most important to the future of waterfowl. You can donate online at www.ducks.org and direct your contributions to one of nine initiatives in DU’s Wetlands for Tomorrow campaign.

Check Out; more information on DU’s Policy efforts and efforts toward waterfowl species of concern:

DU policy work: Conservations Best Kept Secret

Species of Concern:

Scaup

http://www.ducks.org/Page2736.aspx

http://www.ducks.org/blogs/1/13/index.html

Pintail

Ducks Unlimited Inc. Pintail Conservation Initiative

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Pintail Initiative

Mysteries of the Pintail

Sea Ducks

Scaup and White-winged Scoters in the Northwest Territories

Eider Initiative

Sea Duck Joint Venture

Help Save the Conservation Reserve Program

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:44:50 GMT

CRP in North Dakota.

A critical juncture in the history of the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), undoubtedly the most successful conservation program in modern times, has been reached. Since 2005, over 4.2 million acres have expired, and over the next five years, another 21 million more acres are slated to expire. That makes participating in the public comment period and public meetings about CRP in September and October one of the most significant actions you can take as Ducks Unlimited supporter.

CRP, Swampbuster, the Clean Water Act and the federal duck stamp, are some of the important reasons why duck productivity in the U.S. has surpassed Canada in recent years. Wetland losses in the U.S. were once extremely high but have slowed after the implementation of CRP and Swampbuster in particular, which denies crop subsidies to farmers who drain wetlands.

In addition to the 5 million acres of high-quality nesting cover provided by CRP, the program also protected almost 800,000 acres of wetlands. A Farm Service Agency (FSA) evaluation confirmed some 200,000 acres of "cropped wetlands" are embedded in CRP lands and another 592,000 acres of non-cropped wetlands exist in or adjacent to CRP fields.

Studies by the USFWS have shown that CRP makes up 6 percent of the land area but attracts 30 percent of the nesting ducks. Further research conducted by the USFWS and DU shows that CRP was responsible for an average of average of around 2 million incremental ducks between 1992 and 2004. Most experts believe that in wet years that number could be twice as high.

Duck hunters need to protect CRP and the other programs responsible for ducks produced in the U.S.

CRP is also important to hundreds of other species of wildlife including ring-necked pheasants.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has asked the public for comments on the Conservation Reserve Program and scheduled nine public meetings from September 15 through October 8 to solicit comments on the program.

Immediate Need for a New CRP General Signup
Currently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has no plans for a new CRP general signup to re-enroll or replace expiring acres.

Public Comments on CRP Due by October 19, 2009

Email comments to CRPcomments@tecinc.com
Submit comments online at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov
Mail comments to: CRP SEIS, c/o TEC Inc., 8 San Jose Dr., Suite 3-B, Newport News, VA 23606
Fax comments to: (757) 594-1469

DON’T LET THE sun set on the Conservation Reserve Program! Make your voice heard at public meetings or submit comments online!

CRP Public Meeting Schedule
Sept. 15, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Spokane, Wash.
Hilton Garden Inn

Sept. 17, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Great Falls, Mont.
Hampton Inn

Sept. 21, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Moorhead, Minn.
AmericInn Lodge and Suites

Sept. 23, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Manhattan, Kan.
Clarion Hotel

Sept. 25, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Springfield, Ill.
Hilton Garden Inn

Sept. 29, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Marriott Hotel

Oct. 1, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Clovis, NM
La Quinta Inn and Suites

Oct. 6, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Albany, Ga.
Hilton Garden Inn

Oct. 8, from 5 – 7 p.m.
Harrisburg, Pa.
Courtyard by Marriott

Check Out:

Minnesota's pheasant population index down 27 percent

DU and CRP

Loss of CRP and native grasslands could doom duck and pheasant populations.

DU Recommendations for the future of CRP

DU Building Anniversary: Happy 17th!

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:53:42 GMT

Artist rendering of the future DU Headquarters, Memphis, TN.

September 7, 1992

On this date 17 years ago the Ducks Unlimited’s National Headquarters opened for business in Memphis, Tennessee.

The DU headquarters was built with funds raised strictly for the purpose of constructing the building. The building campaign was for 10 million. The actual construction costs came in well below budget at around 8 million. An often overlooked or little known fact is that no funds outside of those donated for the purpose of construction the building were used. Those who have been to the DU NHQ will notice the many plaques around the building signifying donors of individual offices and portions of the building.

The Ducks Unlimited building provides a very comfortable place to work. We are very fortunate and proud of this wonderful campus. It is a beautiful campus with a lake and great trees.

The building houses staff, our IT equipment for the U.S. operations and the warehouse that does all the shipping for the 4,000 plus DU events and houses our gun inventory.

NHQ Facts:

NHQ is a large building and it has to be. Roughly 165 full time staff work in the building and it houses the organization’s executive, accounting, membership, event support, merchandise, human resources, communications, legal, creative services, corporate relations, printing, magazine, and information system staffs. In addition headquarters grassroots, major gift, and conservation staff also house in the building.

The building is paid in full (there is no mortgage on it) from private donations given under the expectation that they only be used towards the construction.

A significant portion of the building is dedicated to event merchandise warehousing, which is needed to stock tens of thousands of items for use in thousands of events annually.

The building is open for tours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and the public is welcome, both members and non-members of DU.

DU NHQ consistently ranks among the top five private gun buyers in the United States. During the past five years, DU has sold an average of 15,000 guns annually at fundraising events nationwide. Proceeds from the sale of these guns raised approximately $6.7 million each year for wetland conservation.

Since 1973, more than 433,000 guns have been sold through DU’s fundraising event system, bringing in total revenue of nearly $152 million for DU conservation programs.

Happy Birthday DU Headquarters!

Check Out:

DU Canada’s Headquarters : Oak Hammock

Research Assistant at MSU - waterfowl foods study

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:44:18 GMT

Title: Wildlife/Forestry Research Assistant

Agency: Mississippi State University

Website: http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/kennedychair/index.asp

Description: Successful applicant will be responsible for data collection for a large scale survey of food resources for waterfowl in hardwood bottomlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MO, TN, AR, MS, LA ). Data will be collected at numerous study sites throughout the MAV from Missouri to Louisiana. Specifically, primary duties (80%) include assisting Ph.D. and M.S. students with field work including sampling aquatic invertebrates and red oak acorns in flooded and un-flooded hardwood bottomland forests. In addition, lab work (20%) will be required which entails processing acorn and invertebrate samples.

Location: Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS

Salary: $1550 month. Lodging and meals provided while in the field. Lodging in Starkville, MS is negotiable.

Qualifications: Preferred applicants will have previous experience with working long days in adverse conditions and a strong work ethic. They will also be willing to be in the field for extended periods of time on a weekly basis, comfortable operating a 4WD truck with trailer, driving long distances, and using an ATV. We prefer applicants with a strong interest in waterfowl habitat ecology and or hardwood bottomland systems.

Start date: October 16^th 2009, four and a half month term (through the end of February 2010)

Application Deadline: September 30^th

Contact Person: Jake Straub

Application e-mail: jstraub@cfr.msstate.edu

To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and references to Jake Straub, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Box 9690, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, email: jstraub@cfr.msstate.edu, cell: 662-722-3152. Email correspondence is preferred

Jacob (Jake) Straub

PhD Student

College of Forest Resources

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Mississippi State University

jstraub@cfr.msstate.edu

662.722.3152

www.cfr.msstate.edu/kennedychair/students.asp

Mallard Telemetry Technician - IL NHS

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:56:15 GMT

Wildlife Technician

Position: Position is a grant supported, hourly position.

Location: Located at the Forbes Biological Station in Havana, Illinois.

Job Description: Technician will be responsible for assisting INHS personnel with a radio-telemetry study of mallards during fall migration in Illinois. Time will be spent trapping, radio-marking, and tracking (ground and aerially) birds. Data entry using computer spreadsheets will be required. Additionally, the successful candidate may assist with other field and lab duties and GIS work as needed.

Qualifications: B.S. degree in biological sciences or related field. Experience in computer systems and software (Microsoft Office, ArcMap), data entry and analysis is desired; experience with telemetry software, particularly program LOAS, will be especially valuable. The incumbent would also benefit from experience with using lab equipment and a willingness to work in a laboratory at times. Other qualifications should include the willingness to work as a team and in adverse weather conditions, good interpersonal skills, quality written and verbal communication skills, and experience in operating field equipment such as 4x4 vehicles and ATVs.

Wage: The wage is $10.00 to $12.00 per hour depending upon experience.

Benefits:

Available: Approximate start date is October 1, 2009 to continue to approximately January 31, 2010.

Application: To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by 18 September 2009. Electronic applications are preferred. Send cover letter, resume, and names, addresses and phone numbers of three references to Aaron Yetter: ayetter@illinois.edu OR Forbes Biological Station, P.O. Box 590, Havana, Illinois 62644
Phone: 309-543-3950; Fax: 309-543-4999

For Technical Questions:

The University of Illinois is an Affirmative, Equal Opportunity Action Employer.

Joshua D. Stafford, Ph.D., Director
Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center
Illinois Natural History Survey
P.O. Box 590
20003 CR 1770E
Havana, IL 62644
Phone: 309-543-3950
Fax: 309-543-4999

Opening Day!!!

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:02:27 GMT

In the south dove hunting is king for a day.

As we move into September a series of opening days will occur across the continent. For our northern brethren in many Canadian provinces waterfowl seasons open. Here in the U.S. dove seasons are typically the opening salvo of the years hunting seasons however, these days the opening of early resident Canada goose seasons are now also occur in September.

In Tennessee, hunters had their first chance of the year at hunting birds when the early Canada goose season opened a half-hour before sunrise on September 1. While hunting Canada geese on September 1^st is relatively new opportunity in the south, dove season is the time honored tradition. From barbecues to cookouts before and after the shooting starts dove hunting is a true social event, a chance to get together with family and friends and knock the rust off your shotgun and your marksmanship.

Speaking of opening days, now you can begin your opening day celebration online at www.openingday.ducks.org. The Ducks Unlimited Opening day website is the ultimate destination this season for anyone seeking migration reports, tips from the experts, and new product reviews. Beginning in September, openingday.ducks.org will feature a complete calendar of special content and interactive features. Check the site schedule often to see upcoming chat sessions with industry pros, downloadable MP3 duck-calling lessons, videos offering basic and advanced shooting tips, and reports from DU biologists. You can send Opening Day e-cards to hunting friends, submit wildlife videos for a contest, and post your opening day photos and turn them into special merchandise that commemorates your outing. Visitors will also be able to log onto a web-based seminar and learn more about waterfowling and conservation from the experts.

So before you pull on your waders, pull up openingday.ducks.org now and check it often for new content, interactive experiences, and surprise guest appearances. It’s all in one place thanks to the support of Advantage Max-4, Federal Black Cloud, Line-X, Xtrema2, and Hevi-Shot.

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Opening Day

Hunting Blogs

Videos

Where to hunt with your Duck Stamp dollars

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:14:43 GMT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a new Web site aimed at helping people find hunting opportunities on national wildlife refuges. More than 300 refuges allow public hunting, and more than 2 million hunters visit refuges every year.

Ducks Unlimited members and supporters are some of the biggest contributors to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Federal Duck Stamp sales have allowed for the purchase of more than 5 million acres of refuge land since the program began in 1934. A proposal, supported by Ducks Unlimited, to increase the purchasing power of the Duck Stamp recently passed the House Natural Resources Committee.

The Chase Lake Prairie Project WMD covers Stutsman and Wells counties in south-central North Dakota. Hunting is open on 133 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) totaling 38,500 acres and five wildlife development areas (WDAs) totaling 3,401 acres.

Hunters can search for refuges based on type of game and location to find refuge hunting options that suit their preferences.

Check Out:

· Visit the National Wildlife Refuge Hunter's search page

· Learn more about the Duck Stamp program

WATERFOWL RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:39:46 GMT

WATERFOWL RESEARCH ASSISTANT- to assist in an experiment evaluating the effect of hunting frequency on waterfowl harvest, habitat use, hunter satisfaction at Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in Mississippi. Duties include performing bag checks of waterfowl harvested by hunters, bird surveys and behavioral observations, hunter interviews, data entry, equipment maintenance, and other duties associated with the project. Approximate dates of employment are 1 Dec. 2009 to 31 Jan. 2010 (possibly a few weeks longer). Salary is approximately $1,500/month and housing will be provided at a WMA.

Applicants must have a legal, current driver’s license, excellent waterfowl identification skills (in hand and flight), ability to operate ATVs, trucks, and trailers, work amidst inclement weather, and in a waterfowl-hunting environment.

Send cover letter, resume, and references to Elizabeth St. James, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Box 9690, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, email: estjames@cfr.msstate.edu, cell: 810-278-2037. Email correspondence is preferred. Position is open until filled.

Great Plains Regional Office staff introduce youth to waterfowl hunting

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:13:56 GMT

DU GPRO Director of Engineering, Roger Smith teaches the finer points of flagging for geese.

This past weekend Bismarck, N.D. residents may have thought duck season was off to an early start when some 40 wanna-be duck-callers began practicing their skills at a Ducks Unlimited Youth Waterfowl Hunting clinic. The youth waterfowl hunting clinic was held Aug. 15 from 9:00am-1:00pm at Ducks Unlimited Great Plains Regional Office (GPRO).

Along with instruction on duck calling, the school-age participants got to learn about, setting out decoys, working with retrievers, duck identification and some duck biology.

“We’re trying to inspire young people to start hunting by giving them the basics,” said Scott Stephens, DU director of conservation planning and organizer of the event. “We’re concerned about the number of hunters dropping in recent years, and we want to help turn that number around.”

Kids who have hunted ducks before were encouraged to bring a friend who hasn't hunted.

Many conservation groups like DU are supported heavily by hunters. “Hunters are inclined to invest in conservation,” Stephens said, “so we want to invest in getting young people interested in the sport.”

Allan Janus, DU GPRO GIS Technician talks about retriever training.

Scott is absolutely correct. America's hunters were her first conservationists and, while their numbers have shrunk since the early 1900s, their impact on the preservation of our dwindling natural areas is greater than ever.

For more than a century, sportsmen have stood at the forefront of the conservation movement in North America. Billions of dollars paid by hunters and anglers for license fees and excise taxes on sporting goods have conserved tens of millions of acres of wildlife habitat, and these revenues remain the primary funding source for state conservation agencies across the United States.

Sportsmen also have been the driving force behind critical national and state conservation legislation; have founded and generously contribute to nonprofit conservation organizations; and directly own, lease, and manage land themselves for wildlife. Their conservation leadership has not only helped to ensure a bright future for waterfowl and other game, but has also benefited a host of other wildlife—including several threatened and endangered species—that share the same habitats.

Another great purpose of the clinic is to match young people with mentors who will take them hunting in the fall.

Children 9 & older had an additional opportunity to attend a shooting session at Capital City Sporting Clays Range on day 2, Sunday August 16.

The Youth Clinic was sponsored by the generosity of Avery Outdoors, ND Game and Fish Dept, Feather Duster Calls and Ducks Unlimited.

Check Out:

KFYR-TV News 5 video of the event

Greenwing Program

Greenwing Website for kids

Special Mission on DUTV

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:00:02 GMT

DU heroes from South Dakota.

As I began to write this blog, announcing tonight’s upcoming DUTV episode honoring our American Heroes, an e-mail arrived from one of our staff here at DU’s National Headquarters. By coincidence this e-mail was a reminder of another care package opportunity for soldiers overseas, this time to Afghanistan. Since the beginning of the United States overseas actions staff here at NHQ have sent their sons and daughters overseas as well as countless care packages to them and to complete strangers. The e-mail in closing reminded us that, “They are serving us, are homesick and anything that reminds them of the States is greatly appreciated!! They also covet your prayers as much as anything else.”

A soldier relaxes with a DU magazine at Camp Taji, Iraq.

It’s certainly easy to forget how something as simple as reading a DU magazine can be taken for granted. For soldiers in far away lands, that same magazine or a DU sticker, carefully placed on their humvee, helps keep a link to home and brings assurance and comfort for at least a few fleeting moments.

A link to home; this certainly must be one of the reasons the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers formed Ducks Unlimited's first chapter in Iraq with a cookout and charter meeting held on June 13.

Those first Camp Taji DU members have continued to sign up more new members for the waterfowl conservation organization since then. About 35 more soldiers have joined the roles of the Camp Taji, Iraq, chapter of Ducks Unlimited since the kickoff cookout.

"It took us to a happy place for a while," said Sgt. John Chrzanowski. "I just think it's unique to raise money for Ducks Unlimited while we're here. It's something that links us to home."

On of the many DU stickers proudly displayed oversees, this one in"Kwost Province" in Northern Afghanistan .

In another attempt to link home to soldiers, last fall, the DUTV teamed up with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to provide a few moments of comfort and thanks to a couple well deserving soldiers. The episode premiers tonight on the Outdoor Channel at 10:30 p.m. EST.

The WWP was founded on the principle that veterans are our nation's greatest citizens and seeks to assist those men and women of our armed forces who have been severely injured during the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations around the world. A great cause for sure.

Here is a bit of information about the upcoming show and DUTV.

This week, Wade Bourne and the DUTV crew are on a very special mission. As a former Air Force pilot, Wade Bourne has strong military roots and the can do attitude to accomplish any mission. Join Wade and U.S. Army Col. Mike Steele as they introduce two of America’s Wounded Warrior heroes to the world-renowned flooded green timber duck hunting and wetlands conservation in the Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Stuttgart, Arkansas has been called the epicenter of duck hunting in America, and for good reason, more mallards winter in Arkansas than any place else in the world.

The Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, Super 8 Stuttgart and several renowned duck clubs rolled out the red carpet for these heroes to make sure they knew they were hunting in the “Duck Capital of the World.”

Air Dates & Times (Eastern Standard Time)

Thursday August 13 - 11:30 p.m.
Friday August 14 - 8:00 a.m.
Sunday August 16 - 7:30 a.m., 3:00 p.m.
On the Outdoor Channel.

Be sure to catch DUTV each week and travel along with hosts Wade Bourne, Jared Brown and myself as we hunt DU priority areas and freelance opportunities across Canada and America. We will try to make your next trip to the field more successful by providing useful tips on calling, hunting, and dog training while celebrating and supporting our rich waterfowling tradition.

Check Out:

DUTV on The Outdoor Channel

Download previous DUTV shows

Iraq Chapter Event : View Images of the Event

Breeding season drawing to a close

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:15:59 GMT

A family group of mallards with ducklings almost full grown loafs on a prairie wetland in late August.

August is a quiet month in the wetlands, most ducks remain secretive during this molting period for adults and fledging period for the young. As the summer comes to a close males are regaining flight status while most female ducks are molting and experiencing a flightless period. Some late nesting ruddy duck, lesser scaup and redhead hens nests are hatching while ducklings form early nests of all species are fledging and learning to fly. Late August is also when avian botulism outbreaks can occur in wetlands and when the first blue-winged teal begin to move south.

Late summer is typically all about survival. It’s a tough life out there, particularly when your flightless or are a young duckling or gosling. Their chances for survival improve once you regain or they learn to fly. The following articles, “Goslings and Ducklings” and “Parental Care,” appeared in the Ducks Unlimited magazine and detail the daily trials and tribulations of waterfowl during the dog days of summer. It’s also a demanding time for adults as they finish their remigial molt (grow flight feathers) and begin to build reserves for fall migration.

During their remigial molt (flightless stage) even mallard drakes, such as the two above, are dressed in criptic drab feathers.

Another research season nearing completion

Since 2000, DU biologists have conducted research to refine our understanding of the landscape and habitat characteristics that influence nesting success and to guide our important conservation work across the U. S. Prairie Pothole Region. Throughout that time, DU researchers have monitored more than 15,000 duck nests and hundreds of nests of other ground-nesting birds (Wilson's phalarope, short-eared owl, sharp-tailed grouse, marbled godwit and others). The 2009 research season represents the tenth and final year of our long-term research across North and South Dakota and the fourth straight year, Dr. Scott Stephens and his crew of DU biologists provided updates on our Web site chronicling nesting efforts by waterfowl in this region.

Many Blue-winged teal begin their migration in August and will not attain their breeding plumage until they reach their wintering grounds in late January.

Wetland conditions were excellent across most of the study sites after a long snowy winter in North Dakota. All indications are that nesting success overall was well above average for the ducks that bred across the Dakota research sites.

Check Out:

Dog Days of Summer

Summers End

2009 May Pond and Breeding Pair Report

Nest Parasitism

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:37:58 GMT

Several waterfowl — including redheads, canvasbacks, wood ducks, ruddy ducks, hooded mergansers and snow geese — pursue a breeding strategy known as nest parasitism, where females lay eggs in the nests of other females of the same species.

Redheads are are probably the most well known for nest parasitism or “dump nesting,” i.e. a large proportion of hens lay eggs in the nests of other redheads and other duck species. Wood ducks would be a close second however, they mainly "dump" eggs in the nests of other wood ducks.

Female redheads regularly lay eggs in the nests of a variety of other duck species. The principle victims are canvasbacks, mallards, blue-winged and cinnamon teals, lesser scaup and ruddy ducks. Some wood duck nest boxes have been found with as many as 50 eggs laid by multiple wood duck hens.

Research conducted in the early 1950’s on the Bear River marshes, Utah, estimated that redheads laid eggs in 70 percent of the mallard nests and in 79 percent of the cinnamon teal nests.

Because of similar nest requirements, the redhead over its breeding range victimizes canvasback nests more than those of any other species. In one study conducted on Manitoba’s Delta Marsh, more than 90 percent of canvasback nests contained redhead eggs. The unsuspecting foster hens raise the redhead ducklings as their own.

Two years ago I came across a mallard brood that also contained one redhead duckling in South Dakota. The ducklings were all of the same age-class so there is little doubt that this was the result of nest parasitism.

This parasitic behavior gains an unknown number of recruits from eggs hatched by other species. A study conducted in 1960 indicated about 50 percent of the redheads produced on the pothole habitats in Manitoba were reared in canvasback broods.

Most waterfowl species hens are devoted mothers. However, sometimes a hen leaves her brood before the ducklings fledge. Brood desertion is particularly common with late nesting females. Late nesting females do this to ensure enough time to molt and replenish fat reserves before fall migration, hedging on her survival and future reproductive efforts.

Check out:

Nest Parasitism

Duck of the Month: Redhead

Nest Research

Shotgun Approach to Nesting Success

Renesting: Persistence is crucial to reproductive

POST DOCTORAL POSITION WITH LONG POINT WATERFOWL

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:35:11 GMT

Long Point Waterfowl (formerly the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund) is seeking a Post Doctoral Researcher to study the potential impacts of offshore wind turbines on the lower Great Lakes. This will be a 2 year position with potential for eventual promotion to level of Waterfowl Scientist within the organization.

The wind power industry is now expanding at a rapid rate within Ontario. As a result, there are relatively few policies or regulations regarding wind farm configuration and placement, especially with respect to minimizing impacts on wildlife and their habitats. Recently, wind project developers have shown interest in potentially locating wind farms in numerous offshore areas within lakes Ontario, Erie, and St. Clair. Many of these locales are near or within areas that are extremely important for migrant and over-wintering waterfowl. Unfortunately, there are currently no, or very limited, data on offshore abundances, distributions and movements of waterfowl (especially seaducks) available to biologists to make pre-construction recommendations as to where wind farm development may least impact waterfowl. Thus, obtaining data on these major information gaps prior to wind farm construction will greatly minimize possible impacts on waterfowl (and other wildlife species) using the lower Great Lakes.

The objectives of this study will be further developed and refined by the post-doctoral researcher. The broad objectives we propose for this study will be to determine:

1) The present-day abundance and spatial distribution of sea ducks and other waterfowl using nearshore and offshore areas of the lower Great Lakes. Initially we propose that research efforts be concentrated on Lake Erie but that efforts eventually expand to lakes Ontario and St. Clair.

2) Spatial and temporal patterns in habitat use and movements of sea ducks and other waterfowl.

The Post Doctoral Researcher will also have the opportunity to collaborate on other Long Point Waterfowl student and non-student research projects and will have the opportunity to collaborate (through adjunct status, teaching, etc) at the University of Western Ontario. This position will be located at the Long Point Waterfowl headquarters in Port Rowan, Ontario.

Please send transcripts, CV, reference letters and a letter of intent/interest to:

Dr. Scott Petrie, Long Point Waterfowl, P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan, ON, N0E 1M0. Ph 519-586-3531, ext 118, spetrie@bsc-eoc.org.

Check Out:

Long Point Waterfowl (formerly the Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund)

Liberal Season Proposed for Upcoming Late Waterfowl Season

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:19:31 GMT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed continuation of liberal hunting season lengths for the upcoming 2009-2010 late waterfowl seasons. Duck hunting season lengths would be 60 days in both the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central Flyway, and 107 days in the Pacific Flyway. Highlights of the proposed frameworks include: a full season on pintails with a one bird daily bag limit in the Atlantic, Mississippi and Central Flyways, and a two bird daily bag limit in the Pacific Flyway and a full season on canvasbacks with a one bird daily bag limit offered nation-wide. Additionally, the Service is proposing to have a bag limit of 2 scaup in the Atlantic, Mississippi and Central Flyways for the full season and a bag limit of 3 scaup in the Pacific Flyway for 86 days.

States select their season and earliest season beginning and latest ending dates from within the frameworks which establish the maximum season length and bag limits.

The proposed late season waterfowl frameworks will appear in a mid-August edition of the Federal Register for public comment and on http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/fedreg/MGBHR.HTML.

Flyway-specific highlights of the proposed late-season frameworks are below:

Atlantic Flyway (Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia):

Ducks: A hunting season is proposed of not more than 60 days between September 26, 2009, and January 31, 2010. The proposed daily bag limit is six and may include no more than four mallards (two hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two hooded mergansers, two scaup, one black duck, one pintail, one canvasback, one mottled duck, one fulvous whistling duck, and four scoters. The season on harlequin ducks is closed.

Geese: For light geese, States would be able to select a 107-day season between October 1, 2009, and March 10, 2010, with a daily bag limit of 15 birds and no possession limit. Seasons for Canada geese would vary in length among States and areas depending on the populations of birds that occur in those areas. The daily bag limit would be five birds in hunt zones established for resident populations of Canada geese. In hunt zones established for migratory populations, bag limits would be three or fewer and would vary among States and areas. For Atlantic brant, the season length may be 50 days with a daily bag limit of two.

Mississippi Flyway (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin):

Ducks: A hunting season is proposed of not more than 60 days between September 26, 2009, and January 31, 2010. The proposed daily bag limit is six and may include no more than four mallards (two hens), one mottled duck, three wood ducks, two redheads, two scaup, one black duck, one canvasback and one pintail. The proposed daily bag limit of mergansers is five, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
Geese: Generally, seasons for Canada geese would be held between September 26, 2009, and January 31, 2010, and vary in length among States and areas, with daily bag limits varying from one to three. States would be able to select seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days with 20 geese daily between September 26, 2009, and March 10, 2010; for white-fronted geese the proposed season would not exceed 72 days with a two-bird daily bag limit or 86 days with a one-bird daily bag limit between September 26, 2009, and February 15, 2010; and for brant it would not exceed 70 days with a two-bird daily bag limit or 107 days with a one bird daily bag limit between September 26, 2009, and January 31, 2010. There would be no possession limit for light geese.

Central Flyway (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and portions of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming):

Ducks: Duck seasons are proposed to be held between September 26, 2009, and January 31, 2010. The daily bag limit would be 6 ducks, with species and sex restrictions as follows: mallard – five, no more than two of which may be females; scaup and redhead – two; wood duck – three; pintail, mottled duck, and canvasback – one. The mottled duck season will begin five days after the beginning of the regular season. The possession limit would be twice the daily bag limit. In the High Plains Mallard Management Unit (roughly west of the 100th Meridian), a 97-day season is proposed. The last 23 days would be able to start no earlier than December 12, 2009. A 74-day season is proposed for the remainder of the Central Flyway.

Geese: Under the proposal, States may select seasons between September 26, 2009 and February 14, 2010, for dark geese and between September 26, 2009, and March 10, 2010, for light geese. East tier States would be able to select a 107-day season for Canada geese season with a daily bag limit of three. For white-fronted geese, States would be able to select either a 72-day season with a daily bag limit of two birds or an 86-day season with a daily bag limit of one bird. In the West Tier, States may select a 107-day dark- goose season with a daily bag limit of five birds. In the Western Goose Zone of Texas, the State would be able to select a 95-day season with a daily bag limit of four dark geese (including no more than one white-fronted goose). Colorado would be able to select a 107-day season with an aggregate bag limit of four. For light geese, all States would be able to select a 107-day season with a daily bag limit of 20 and no possession limit.

Pacific Flyway (Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and portions of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming):

Ducks: Under the proposal, States are allowed a 107-day general duck season between September 26, 2009, and January 31, 2010. The proposed daily bag limit is seven ducks, including no more than two mallard hens, two redheads, one canvasback and two pintails. In addition, an 86 day season for scaup can be chosen with a daily bag limit of three.
Geese: 100-day seasons are proposed for the Pacific Flyway between September 26, 2009, and March 10, 2010. Proposed basic daily bag limits are up to 10 light geese and four dark geese. There are exceptions to the basic bag limits and season structures for geese in many States, so consult State regulations for specific details. In California, Washington and Oregon, the dark goose limit does not include brant. For brant, the proposed season lengths are 16 days in Oregon and Washington and 30 days in California, with a two-bird daily limit. Washington and California would be able to choose seasons in each of the two zones.

Check Out:

To see the "Status of Waterfowl" report and video as well as last year's harvest figures, see: http://www.flyways.us

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

DUCK STAMP RECEIVES CONSERVATION BOOST FROM HOUSE

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:10:53 GMT

2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp. Joshua Spies, an artist from Watertown, South Dakota, won the contest with his acrylic painting of a long-tailed duck.

Great news from Washington, DC.

Waterfowl habitat conservation is moving closer to keeping pace with the skyrocketing land values of the past several years. Wednesday, the House Natural Resources Committee passed the Migratory Bird Habitat Investment and Enhancement Act, sending the bill to the House floor.

“This is an important step for conservation,” said Scott Sutherland, Director of Governmental Affairs for Ducks Unlimited. “The diminished buying power of the duck stamp is hamstringing the efforts of millions of conservationists that are investing in the program to protect waterfowl habitat.”

Since being set at its current price of $15 in 1991, the purchasing power of the stamp has severely hampered the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s ability to purchase land with the funds raised by stamp.

Under the new bill, the price of the stamp would be raised to $25 after July 2010. More than 1.5 million people purchase duck stamps each year, and over 95% of them are waterfowlers. Stamp collectors, as well as other bird and wildlife enthusiasts also purchase the stamps, either for their own collections or for the free access to National Wildlife Refuges that the stamp allows.

Check Out:

Tuesdays Blog

Waterfowl Production Areas March/April 2009 DU Magazine about the “Great Value in Duck Stamps.” Blog: A piece of history - Federal Duck Stamp Competition Federal Duck Stamp Story Images of past stamps

House Panel to Vote on Duck Stamp Bill

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:55:03 GMT

2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp. Joshua Spies, an artist from Watertown, South Dakota, won the contest with his acrylic painting of a long-tailed duck.

A proposal to conserve wetlands habitat (via the Federal Duck Stamp) will be among the bills the House Natural Resources Committee will vote on when it convenes this Wednesday.

Along with other bills, the committee will vote on H.R. 1916, which would raise money to protect wetlands habitat by increasing the price of the federal duck stamp from $15 to $25 in 2010.

The Federal Duck Stamp Program, which sells the stamps both as waterfowl hunting permits and as a symbol of conservation, has raised more than $700 million to buy or lease waterfowl habitat since its inception in 1934.

The bill was slated for markup last month but was pulled after Republicans filed at least seven different amendments the morning of the markup, prompting Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) to put the bill on hold to allow members time to study the proposals. Most of the amendments were aimed at limiting the amount of land acquisition authorized under the program.

There have been no changes so far to the bill itself, so Republicans are likely to reintroduce many -- if not all -- of the same amendments, according to a spokeswoman for ranking member Doc Hastings (R-Wash.).

To date, the 76-year-old program has conserved almost 6 million acres nationwide. Much of it is part of the national wildlife refuge system.

Originally created in 1934 as the federal licenses required for hunting migratory waterfowl, the sale of federal duck stamps raises approximately $25 million each year to fund waterfowl habitat acquisition for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

A few duck stamp facts:

Over 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat have been purchased with duck stamp dollars.
Responsible for the more than 36,000 Waterfowl Production Areas purchased in the Prairie Pothole Region.
Total Sales: More than 119 Million Stamps
Total Revenue Raised: More than $700 Million for Habitat Conservation

The 2009 federal duck stamp went on sale June 26th. Whether you hunt or not, purchasing the $15 stamp is the easiest way to support wetlands and wildlife habitat conservation.

Check Out:

Waterfowl Production Areas

March/April 2009 DU Magazine about the “Great Value in Duck Stamps.”

Blog: A piece of history - Federal Duck Stamp Competition

Federal Duck Stamp Story

Images of past stamps

2009 Status of Waterfowl Video Report Now Available

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:19:50 GMT

Here are 2009 results from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service's Waterfowl Status Report. Biologists have conducted waterfowl surveys in North America for more than 50 years, making it the longest-running wildlife survey in the world. In 2009, they surveyed more than two million square miles of habitat. The video report describes biologists' findings as they surveyed the northern United States and Canada.

VIDEO

Check Out:

2009 Waterfowl Populations Status

2009 Trends Report

DU Canada July Habitat Conditions

Summer Habitat Conditions in Canada

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:36:04 GMT

July 2009

Despite variable spring conditions, some results from the 2009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Canadian Wildlife Services’ Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey are encouraging. The greatest increase in total duck breeding populations in Canada was observed in the Alaska-Yukon Territory-Old Crow Flats area, where estimates were 19% above the long-term average this year. With the exception of southern Alberta, the survey also reported improved conditions in the Prairies, where May ponds have increased by 17% since last year and estimates of five waterfowl species were significantly higher than their long-term averages in some areas. Favourable conditions continue in eastern portions of the pothole region as well as in much of Eastern Canada.

WESTERN REGION

British Columbia

Along the coast, temperatures were well above normal in June and most of the snow has now melted. Compounded with very little rainfall, this has led to unseasonably dry conditions. Early July is showing more mixed conditions with a frontal system moving in from the Pacific Ocean, but water supplies will likely remain low, especially for east Vancouver Island and the south coast. Farmers are irrigating regularly to salvage their dry crops and wetlands are lower than normal for early summer. However, habitat conditions have been good for brood-rearing resident waterfowl, and late broods are still appearing on wetlands and estuaries. Many local waterfowl are now flightless as they molt into new flight feathers.

Although the central Interior has experienced good recent precipitation in some areas, habitat conditions are still variable (e.g. good in the Cariboo, poor in the Chilcotin) but fair overall. Breeding effort appeared slightly below normal, and brood survival is still of concern due to the early-summer drought. Hatching dates were all one to two weeks later than normal.

Precipitation has been below average in the southern Interior, where wetlands are in late summer condition in most areas. Breeding effort appears to be below normal due to dry conditions. Recent rains have improved conditions slightly in the southeast Interior, but habitats are still drier than normal due to poor winter and spring weather.

In the Peace region, precipitation has been 60-85% of normal since April 1, although there was significant rainfall in the past week. This precipitation is likely too late for the current hay crop, but will help some cereals, pastures, and forested ranges. Although water levels in some projects on major drainages rose, habitat conditions are still fair at best given the prolonged drought conditions, cold and late spring, and late frosts. Overall, breeding pair numbers appear to be down about 5-10% from last year, and broods seem a bit delayed from normal years. Some interesting observations include 30 American white pelicans on Swan Lake, and several trumpeter swan broods of five cygnets.

Western Boreal Forest

Precipitation was below average for many areas in the Yukon, where Whitehorse received 72% of its normal rainfall. Many parts of the Northwest Territories have experienced more rain, including Fort Smith, Yellowknife, and Norman Wells, where 200% of normal precipitation amounts have fallen. Observers are reporting good numbers of waterfowl at Brackett Lake and in the Mackenzie River near Fort Good Hope.

The 2009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Canadian Wildlife Services’ Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey) indicates that waterfowl numbers are 19% above the long-term average in the Alaska-Yukon Territory-Old Crow Flats area. This was the best increase for any region in the traditional survey area within Canada. Green-winged teals, in particular, were up 73% from the long-term average.

North of Fort McMurray, Alberta received good to very good amounts of precipitation. Further south, many areas received less than 50% of their normal rainfall amounts. Although Boreal portions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba may have slightly drier conditions than normal, they are still doing much better than the Prairies. In terms of precipitation amounts, Buffalo Narrows received over 200% of normal, Key Lake was just short of 150% of normal, and La Ronge and Prince Albert were at normal. Flow rate in the Churchill River system is near or slightly above normal. Precipitation has been low in the Melfort area, with some recent rainfall in July. Crops are well behind some other southern areas. Mallard, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, shoveler, and bufflehead broods have all been observed.

Habitat conditions are fair to good in the Saskatchewan River Delta, where precipitation has been around 75% of normal. The spring has been colder than normal and the nesting season may have been delayed by an estimated two to three weeks. Goldeneye, mallard, canvasback and bufflehead broods have been recorded, and mallards have been observed grouping up. Although anecdotal observations indicate that ring-necked populations are up in the area, the majority of them do not appear to have initiated nesting as of the first week in July. USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey numbers in the Saskatchewan River Delta strata are up 8% from the long-term average for all species. However, anecdotally, American coot populations appear to be lower this year.

Although Flin Flon started the spring with below normal precipitation and low water conditions, June rains were plentiful (108% of normal) and most bodies of water are now was a couple of weeks behind normal due to the late spring.

Alberta

Dry conditions prevailed across the agricultural area of Alberta in June, continuing the trend that started in the fall of 2008. Some areas experienced the driest June in 50 years.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reports indicate that growing season precipitation totals have been 40-60% of normal for much of the south Peace Parkland, northwest Boreal Transition Zone, west Aspen Parkland, and north and west Prairie. Northwest of Edmonton and in the north Prairie, totals are less than 40% of average. In all other areas, totals are 60-85% of normal, except for the southeast Prairie and north Peace Parkland where average precipitation amounts have fallen.

The first week of July has seen the arrival of rainy weather throughout the province. In the south Peace region, over half the normal July rainfall fell in the first week of the month.

Elsewhere, there have been local heavy rainfall events. The precipitation has stimulated grass and crop growth, but has had minimal effect on wetland water levels due to a significant moisture deficit. Many rural municipalities have declared drought disasters.Forage supplies are becoming scarce and field crops are being written-off.

Compared to last year, the 2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey reports a 19% decline in spring pond numbers and a 22% decline in waterfowl numbers in southern Alberta. When duck numbers were compared to 2008 and to the long-term average, respectively: mallards were -14% and -31%; northern pintails were -28% and -76; blue-winged teals were -41% and 22%; gadwalls were -5% and +28%; redheads were -59% and +10%; canvasbacks were -34% and -21%; and scaups were +63% and -17%.

As a result of dry spring and early summer conditions, coupled with a lower waterfowl breeding population, waterfowl production in the agricultural area of Alberta will be generally poor with pockets of fair. Field staff report that the below average conditions have delayed breeding activity and have resulted in small brood sizes. Recent rains probably arrived too late to have an effect on breeding activity but may enhance local brood survival in some areas.

Saskatchewan

According to the 2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey, total duck numbers in the province were down 10% compared to 2008 but are still 7% above the long-term average. Northern pintail and scaup numbers increased this year, but both species remain well below the long-term average. May pond counts were up 37% compared to 2008 and were 11% above the long-term average.

Since May pond and breeding surveys were completed, wetland conditions have improved in many areas of the province due to rainfall. In particular, central parts of the province have received up to 127mm of rain. The Thickwood Hills, Allan/Dana Hills and Touchwood Hills have all received 50-127mm of rain in the last two weeks. Thus, wetland conditions across most of the Parklands are good. Dry conditions persist in the southwest and across parts of the Missouri Coteau. Wetlands are fair across much of the Prairie but improve closer to the U.S. border, especially in the Coteau. Wetland conditions are also fair in the southeast, but are good around the Estevan area.

Breeding activities appeared to be late this year, with below normal temperatures persisting in the spring. Some broods were observed in early June, but peak hatch seemed to occur in late June. The recent rains should help to improve wetland conditions for brood survival, as water is in the emergent zone of most large wetlands. However, temperatures across the province remain below normal, which could also influence brood survival into the fall. Given the late hatch, overall production is expected to be fair across most of Saskatchewan.

Interestingly, there are still a number of paired birds and even some flocks of field-feeding birds. The recent rains across the province have also helped to improve pastures and crops. Most crops are behind schedule. Dry conditions early in the summer were particularly damaging to crops in the west central portion of the province, and recent rain events were too late to help. Crops in the central part of the province have improved but are patchy depending on the amount of rainfall. Hay is starting to be cut, although it is quite short and has started to develop seed heads.

Manitoba

Wetland conditions remain favourable throughout most of southwest Manitoba. However, an anticipated bumper year for waterfowl is shaping up to be more of an average year, largely due to poor climate conditions during initial nesting and hatching.

The 2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey has confirmed field observations of an increase in initial pairs settling in southwest Manitoba. Total breeding pair counts are up 12% from last year. Most notable was an increase in the number of breeding canvasbacks and northern pintails, although they are still down from the long-term average. May pond counts also increased considerably compared to last year, thanks to a good spring runoff.

Wetlands remain in favourable condition for broods throughout the three major breeding areas of the Killarney, Virden, and Minnedosa/Shoal Lake pothole regions. Only some areas in the extreme southwest corner of the province require substantial rainfalls to improve brood rearing conditions.

Despite favourable wetland conditions overall, production will be slightly lower than anticipated due to poorly timed climatic events. Low temperatures, rain, and frost persisted during the later part of May and early June, which coincided with the initial hatch dates of early-nesting waterfowl. This had a large negative effect on mallard, pintail and canvasback broods. Field observers continue to report fewer older broods (those that would have hatched prior to mid June) and smaller brood sizes. On a positive note, a strong renesting effort has been observed and brood numbers and sizes of later hatching birds are noteworthy. Recent rains have also delayed some haying operations, which should improve hatching success of renesting birds.

EASTERN REGION

Ontario

Wet weather continues to be the norm for most of southern Ontario, where habitats remain in very good condition. Much of the south central and southwest parts of the province, including the Bruce Peninsula, have been the wettest locales this year. These areas have received 115-150% of their average precipitation, while rainfall throughout the rest of the southern region has generally been near normal. Permanent wetlands remain plentiful and are at or near full supply, which bodes well for developing broods. The arrival of summer has finally brought more seasonal temperatures to the region, but they still remain on the cooler side of normal. Water levels in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and Lake Ontario are still slightly above their respective long-term monthly averages, while those of Lake Huron and Lake Superior continue to be lower than normal.

Although wet weather has been the norm in the northeast, the northwest part of the province has experienced significantly drier weather, especially along the western end of Lake Superior where rainfall has ranged from only 40–85% of the average total amount.

Despite this significant difference in precipitation totals, habitats are still in decent shape throughout the north. Warmer temperatures have finally returned to the Hudson Bay Lowlands, although they’ve arrived too late to significantly alter reproduction outcomes.

Although the 2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey reports no significant change since 2008 in population estimates for 10 of the more abundant waterfowl species in eastern survey areas, sightings of duck broods continue to be limited. This may be because broods are more widely distributed across an abundant wetland base, or because frequent rainfalls have caused extensive nest loss from flooding or cool temperatures have affected insect hatch or brood survival. Field reports confirm a typical prolonged breeding effort.

However, it appears that many birds renested several times as evidenced by either very late or very early age class broods. Banding efforts later this summer should provide more insight into actual production outcomes. While local Canada goose production numbers continue to explode across southern Ontario, northern production from Southern James Bay Population and Mississippi Valley Population geese is expected to be well below average.

Overall, 2009 waterfowl production is expected to be near average for Ontario.

Quebec

Temperatures have been close to or slightly colder than normal for the whole province. Total precipitation has also been close to or below normal in most regions. Two exceptions were Quebec City, which received around 15% more precipitation than average, and the Abitibi region, which received 60% less precipitation than average.

The mean St. Lawrence water level is 13cm higher than normal. Water levels in wetlands and marshes have decreased due to poor precipitation, but still received sufficient amounts to ensure good rearing conditions.

At Bylot Island, temperatures are favourable for a good breeding effort. The peak laying date for the greater snow goose (80 nests) was around June 10 or 11. Clutch sizes are an average of 3.4 eggs per nest, which is slightly below the long-term average of 3.7 eggs.

Based on preliminary results of the breeding waterfowl survey in eastern Boreal forests, production should be normal, with many broods and a mean clutch size close to the average.

Habitat conditions remain generally good across Quebec.

Atlantic Canada

Colder than normal temperatures have continued from June into mid July. Last week saw overnight temperatures down as low as 5 C, and frost was reported in some areas. However, long-range weather forecasts are still calling for seasonal temperatures. Precipitation has been above normal, and normal amounts are predicted for the remainder of the summer.

With higher precipitation and lower daily temperatures, many waterways remain swollen above typical seasonal levels. Although this tends to limit typical shallow water feeding areas for broods, resultant standing water in areas that don’t normally hold water this time of year has increased food availability. An increased presence of shallow water ponds should more than make up for any impact that high water has on prey and food dilution.

In spite of less than ideal “summer” weather, waterfowl broods seem to be in good shape. Many species were observed breeding early, which resulted in many broods in the 2C age class already. These larger young should be able to cope with the cold and rain. Several large broods are being observed, which indicates good survivorship thus far. Reports from goose banding efforts indicate that reproductive success has been high and many larger broods are nearly at the flying stage.

Given favourable spring habitat conditions, reports of early and numerous broods, and observations of many healthy 2C broods, overall conditions remain very good in the Atlantic provinces.

Check Out: July 2008 for comparison.

USFWS VIDEO

Prepared by Meagan Hainstock, based on reports provided by the following field contacts:

British Columbia – Bruce Harrison
Alberta – Ian McFarlane
Saskatchewan – Michael Hill
Manitoba – Mark Francis
Western Boreal Forest – Brent Friedt
Ontario – Scott Muir
Quebec – Patrick Harbour
Atlantic Canada – Adam Campbell

Passing of Phil Covington

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:18:58 GMT

Phil (right), Dr. Leigh Fredrickson (center), and Brett Wehrle (left) in one of many wetlands he helped protect; this one at Noxubee NWR, Mississippi.

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of one of our family, Phil Covington, Wetland Biologist with Ducks Unlimited.

Phil Covington was a former wetland manager for the Missouri Department of Conservation and head of WRP restoration for Ducks Unlimited, Arkansas. Among being a passionate waterfowl hunter Phil was an expert and early advocate for moist-soil management.

Phil passed away Monday morning (July 13, 2009) after a lengthy illness. Phil was a great advocate of conservation, a true partner, and to those who knew him, a great friend. Phil's devotion and tireless energy towards wetland restoration and protection was unequalled. He took great pride in helping educate the next generation of wetland managers throughout the country.

Phil fought a long, hard battle with cancer but he never lost his smile, his wit, or his story telling ability. He loved his family and friends and taught us all so much. We will miss him greatly.

“Phil always wore a smile regardless of professional and personal challenges at bay or looming, from the flood of 1993 that drowned Shanks WMA in Missouri to the last 'flood' that took Phil from his family, Earth, and its people. Phil and his works are and will be legendary lessons for waterfowl and wetlands conservation and management and the people passionate about 'ducks and water' (in the right places). I will always remember and admire him as a giant of genuiness, and I will never forget Phil's smile and camaraderie associated with various venues of waterfowl and wetlands conservation,” said friend and Mississippi State Professor, Dr. Rick Kaminski.

I could not have said it better myself.

No services are planned at this time. At Phil's request, a memorial service will be held this fall.

Cards may be sent to Mrs. Sharon (Shady) Covington, 174 Honeyhill Loop, Searcy, AR 72143.

Check Out:

Ducks Unlimited to Plant Record Number of Trees in Arkansas

Winter Homes for Waterfowl

Arkansas DU Conservation Report 2007-08

Wildlife (Waterfowl) Private Land Manager/Biologist

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:23:54 GMT

Location: York Woods, near Charleston, MS in the Mississippi Delta

Preferred Qualifications: B.S. in Wildlife, Forestry, Natural Resources, Agriculture, or related degree; current vehicle operating license; knowledge of farm equipment operation; passion for working outdoors and engaging in waterfowl and other wildlife habitat management; experience guiding waterfowl and other hunters; team-spirit and ability to work with team members; congeniality; and ability to work amid rigorous climatic conditions.

Benefits: Competitive salary; medical and dental insurance; 401K; free (nice) housing and utilities; and pickup truck.

Contact: Mr. Rance Moring, York Woods, (662)392-0947; bcfarm@cox.com

Position open until filled

Ph.D. Graduate Student Position Arctic Geese

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:51:01 GMT

Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology Program

University of Nevada Reno

I am seeking a student to work on a long-term (NSF funded) study of Pacific Black Brant on the Tutakoke River colony, on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Bering Sea coast, Alaska. Brant have studied continuously at this site since 1984. Student will be expected to develop research questions related to life-history evolution, population biology, behavior, nutrition or other areas consistent with their interests. We have a long-term data set with complete histories for thousands of individuals. Data include parentage, hatch dates and growth conditions during the first summer, age of recruitment, frequency and success of breeding, clutch size, egg size, success of offspring, histories of pairs and other data. Students with strong quantitative skills are especially encouraged to apply. The student will also be responsible for managing the field study, with assistance from NSF, so students should be comfortable in remote settings. Students should apply to the Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology Program at UNR (http://www.mojave.unr.edu/eecb/new/index.php). Student will receive stipend, health insurance and 80% of tuition paid. I

f you have questions contact Jim Sedinger (jsedinger@cabnr.unr.edu).

Jim Sedinger

University of Nevada Reno

Duck of the Month : Northern Shoveler

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:45:28 GMT

A pair of northern shovelers loaf in an Arkansas rice field (Jan. 2009).

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

The northern shoveler is one of the most strikingly colored waterfowl and one of my favorites.

A medium-sized duck, the northern shoveler is a swift flyer that often twists and turns like a teal. Because one-third of their diet is animal matter (invertebrates), shovelers are not considered particularly good to eat. However, in many areas, such as the rice prairies of east-central Arkansas, Texas and California, shoveler diets include waste rice, making its eating quality on par with other dabbling ducks.

Their common nickname is spoonbill. It’s a descriptive name referring to the large, spatulate bill. This bill is almost 1.5 inches wide at the tip. It’s a highly refined adaptation that allows shovelers to strain microscopic foods from the water. The comb-like structures called “lamellae” allow shovelers to use foods that most other ducks cannot access.

These small, comb-like structures along the inside of the bill act like sieves. They look like teeth, even though ducks and geese don’t chew food. When ducks are searching for food, non-food items such as mud and water are expelled while seeds, bugs or other food items are retained by the lamellae.

Other than its bill, the hen shoveler resembles other mottled-brown dabbling duck hens, as do drakes in eclipse plumage and immatures. One of the last ducks to obtain breeding plumage, the male shoveler doesn’t don his gaudy breeding colors until winter, long after most other ducks.

Shovelers fly swiftly and can be challenging targets.

The drake’s breeding plumage is a brilliant green head, a white breast and chestnut sides. Both sexes have a pale blue patch on the forewing, similar to the blue-winged teal, though the drake’s is brighter and larger than the hen’s.

The male’s speculum is large and iridescent green. The drake’s bill is black. The hen’s bill is olive-green, with fleshy-orange in the gape area and speckled with black dots. Both have orange legs.

Drakes call “who-who” and “took-took.” Hens have a feeble and raspy mallard-like quack.

In North America, the largest number of northern shovelers occur in the Prairie Pothole Region, followed by the parkland areas and short-grass prairies of Canada.

Shovelers are late nesters, often arriving on the breeding grounds well after mallards and pintails. Nesting is typically initiated in mid-May. Most shoveler eggs hatch by the end of June. However, eggs from late-nesting or re-nesting hens will hatch through the end of July.

Northern shoveler breeding population estimates, 95% confidence intervals, and North American Waterfowl Management Plan population goal (dashed line) for selected species in the traditional survey area (strata 1-18, 20-50, 75-77).

Check Out:

Trends of Other Waterfowl Species

A Couple Waterfowl Technician Jobs

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:42:25 GMT

CA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME http://www.dfg.ca.gov Wildlife Branch 1812 Ninth Street Sacramento, California 95814

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Position: Waterfowl Scientific Aides (2)

Time Period: September 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010.

Job Description: Rocket-netting, banding, and avian influenza sampling of northern pintails and other waterfowl in the Sacramento Valley of California from September to October. Morphological measurements on white-fronted geese at hunter check stations from October to December. Avian influenza sampling of hunter-killed waterfowl at hunter check stations from October to January. Direct and indirect surveys on Tule white-fronted geese for population estimation study. Collect tail fans from hunter-shot light geese for species identification study. Rocket-net Aleutian cackling geese for avian influenza sampling and applying neck collars. Other assigned duties.

Qualifications: B. S. in wildlife biology and environmental studies. Experience handling wild animals, preferably waterfowl. Ability to lift and carry 40 lbs of equipment. Valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Enthusiasm for field work and waterfowl management highly desired.

Housing: Bunkhouse living quarters provided at no cost likely to be available at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge with United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Willows, California.

Please send email to soldenburger@dfg.ca.gov with attached resume and 3 references.

Salary: $11.58 per hour

Currently, State of California employees are being furloughed the first three Fridays of each month – thus a reduction in the number of potential hours an individual may work in a pay period.

Contact: Shaun Oldenburger

Wildlife Biologist, Waterfowl Program

California Department Fish and Game

1812 Ninth Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Office Phone: (916) 445-3763

Email: soldenburger@dfg.ca.gov

Conserving California’s Wildlife Since 1870

#############################

WATERFOWL CAPTURE AND BANDING TECHNICIAN

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Capture and banding of waterfowl using clover-leaf traps and rocket nets. Capture efforts are focused on northern pintails, cinnamon teal, redheads, and wood ducks during pre- and post-hunting season periods. Technician will be responsible for baiting sites, reading auxiliary markers, building and maintaining traps, banding, data collection, data entry, and daily communication with supervisor. The position is in the area of Fallon, Nevada which is approximately one hour east of Reno, Nevada.

DATES

We are advertising for 2, 9-week positions. Applicants can apply for one or both periods.

Pre-hunting season - The first is the pre-hunting season period. Job begins on August 9, 2009 and ends October 10, 2009.

Post-hunting season – The second period is post-hunting season. Position begins on January 24, 2010 and ends March 27, 2010.

QUALIFICATIONS

A strong desire and work ethic to capture as many waterfowl as possible in a safe and efficient manner. The ability to assign individual waterfowl to species, gender, and age without error. The ability to work long hours alone and with minimal supervision. A clean driving record. An undergraduate degree in a waterfowl related field is preferred, but not necessary.

PAY, HOUSING, AND VEHICLE USE

Pay is $560/week. An NDOW vehicle will be supplied for work duties. Housing will be provided by the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge.

TO APPLY – Send email to nicolai@unr.nevada.edu with resume and 3 references. To be considered for the pre-season banding position, applications must be received by July 17, 2009.

CONTACT (email preferred)

Chris Nicolai
Nevada Department of Wildlife
1100 Valley Rd.
Reno, NV 89512

Office (775)784-6393

Email: nicolai@unr.nevada.edu

Ducks respond positively to wet conditions in Prairie Pothole Region

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:01:25 GMT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its preliminary report on mid-continent breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May and early June. Total duck populations were estimated at 42 million breeding ducks on the surveyed area. This estimate represents a 13 percent increase over last year's estimate of 37.3 million birds and is 25 percent above the 1955-2008 long-term average.

"The increase in duck numbers in relation to the increase in habitat conditions is consistent with what we would expect to see in U.S. and Canadian breeding grounds this spring," said Ducks Unlimited's Executive Vice President Don Young. "History has repeatedly shown that when water returns to the breeding grounds ducks respond with a strong breeding effort."

While numbers are up, DU Chief Biologist Dale Humburg explains that hunter success will still depend heavily on weather, which will dictate migration patterns.

For further details, see the press release posted on the Ducks Unlimited Web site.

Nesting activity peaks

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:52:42 GMT

No resting for nesting waterfowl moms

As June comes to a close, the breeding grounds are a flurry of activity for waterfowl. Many species are now experiencing peak nesting activity.

Most pintail and mallard nests have hatched. Broods of these species are abundant on shallow wetlands. By the third week of June the first redhead broods typically appear. Most blue-winged teal and shoveler nests hatch by June 26. And the first clutches of lesser scaup and ruddy duck eggs are hatching.

Early summer rains are critical now to maintain shallow wetlands and influence renesting efforts and brood survival. Be sure to look at our ongoing nesting research on the prairies for the latest details.

Picking up the house. Keeping track of the kids. Making sure everyone eats a good meal. Sounds like a mother’s job, right? Well it also describes life for female waterfowl this time of year. Spring is when female waterfowl build nests, lay eggs and care for newly hatched young. For waterfowl, all of this work falls mainly on the female. It’s a busy and often dangerous time for her. There is no resting for the nesting in the waterfowl world.

Some interesting nesting facts:

Bigger is better: A trumpeter swan builds a nest up to 13 feet across.

Hiding out: Cinnamon and blue-winged teal hens often create a cave-like nest by weaving grass above their heads.

Home is what you make of it: Some waterfowl don’t put a lot of effort into making a nest. The hen often stays put, stretches out her neck and grabs whatever nest material she can reach.

Extra large eggs: The ruddy duck hen is one of the smallest waterfowl, but she lays some of the largest eggs compared to her body size. In fact, a clutch of 6-9 eggs may weigh three times as much as she does!

Dump’em: Different hens may lay as many as 80 eggs in a single nest.

Lay ’em and leave ’em: The redhead sometimes chooses to lay an egg in another bird’s nest - often that of a canvasback. Or it can belong to another redhead or another kind of duck. Sometimes it’s even a bird that isn’t in the waterfowl family. The receiving duck then has the job of caring for the redhead’s egg and its duckling later on.

Little bundles of joy: A hen will lay one egg every 24 hours. Waterfowl typically lay anywhere from two to 16 eggs but usually around 10.

Waterfront view: Nesting close to water isn’t always important to waterfowl. In fact, it can be detrimental to nesting success, because shorelines provide highways for nest predators. Pintail hens often choose a nesting spot in fields up to 2 miles from the nearest wetland.

Hi-rise apartment for rent: Hen hooded mergansers often like to nest in trees cavities as high as 75 feet above the ground.

Know your neighbors: Common eiders often nest alongside snowy owls. The owls chase away predators to guard their own nest. This helps the eider, too. Nesting research being conducted by DU biologists is pointing to a similar occurrence. Nesting success often is highest in fields that also contain northern harrier nests.

“Check It” Out:

Shotgun Approach to Nesting Success

Renesting: Persistence is crucial to reproductive

The Incubation Period

Duck stamp is on sale today

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:41:38 GMT

Photo courtesy of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Stamp sales support conservation of wetlands and wildlife habitat

The new federal duck stamp is on sale today at Bass Pro Shops nationwide. Whether you hunt or not, purchasing the $15 stamp is the easiest way to support wetlands and wildlife habitat conservation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host the First Day of Sale for the 2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp today at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World retail store in Nashville, Tennessee. Bass Pro Shops will also be sponsoring First Day of Sale events at eighteen other retail stores throughout the country that day.

The 2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp features a long-tail duck and decoy painted by wildlife artist Joshua Spies of Watertown, S.D. A panel of five judges chose Spies art last fall from among 270 paintings at the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest in Bloomington, Minnesota.

To date, the 76-year-old program has conserved almost 6 million acres nationwide. Much of it is part of the national wildlife refuge system.

A few duck stamp facts:

Over 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat have been purchased with duck stamp dollars.

Total Sales: More than 119 Million Stamps

Total Revenue Raised: More than $700 Million for Habitat Conservation

Responsible for the more than 36,000 Waterfowl Production Areas purchased in the Prairie Pothole Region.

Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently signed an agreement to cooperatively promote the federal duck stamp contest. DU and the USFWS will work together to organize and promote the annual contest through 2015. DU and the USFWS signed the agreement to help raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of federal ducks stamps to wetlands and waterfowl habitat conservation.

Increasing land prices have made it more difficult for the USFWS to acquire waterfowl habitat with duck stamp proceeds. Several proposals to adjust the price of the duck stamp in order to protect more habitat have been drafted, and a bill to increase the price of the stamp will hopefully leave Congress soon.

Be sure to read DU chief biologist, Dale Humburg’s feature article in the March/April 2009 DU Magazine about the “Great Value in Duck Stamps.”

Get out and by a duck stamp today. Better yet buy two!!!

Check Out:

Waterfowl Production Areas

Blog: A piece of history - Federal Duck Stamp Competition

Federal Duck Stamp Story

Images of past stamps

Late Spring Habitat Conditions in Canada

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:18:19 GMT

June 2009

Rainfall has been below average through most of British Columbia, but goose and duck broods made early appearances in the Peace region. Precipitation and waterfowl numbers are average in most of the Western Boreal Forest, but cooler temperatures could have variable effects on waterfowl productivity in some areas. Conditions are still dry in most of Alberta, where productivity will likely be low this year. Conditions are also dry in Saskatchewan, but wetlands in the Thickwood Hills, the Allan/Dana Hills, and the Missouri Coteau are faring well. Although weather has been somewhat unsettled in Manitoba, conditions are still favourable in the southwest. Southern Ontario is also enjoying favourable conditions, and a strong wood duck breeding effort has been reported in the province. Hatching period and effort seem to be normal or slightly later in Quebec, but productivity will likely be good or better than last year. Productivity should also be very good in Atlantic Canada, given favourable spring habitat conditions and reports of early and numerous broods.

British Columbia

The cooler conditions observed along the coast in April and May are quickly becoming a distant memory, as temperatures have increased significantly over the last two weeks. A lack of rainfall has led to drier than normal conditions and the high-elevation snowpack, which was below-average this year, is now quickly melting. This may translate to low summer stream flows, but conditions remain good for now. Warm conditions are benefiting agriculture, and new crops are planted and growing well. Broods of Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards and blue-winged teals have been spotted in local wetlands.

In the central Interior, spring rainfall was variable but below average overall. Habitat conditions are rapidly deteriorating due to a lack of precipitation, and water levels have dropped significantly since May. Breeding effort appeared normal, but brood survival is of concern due to the decrease in habitat quality. Some late goose broods are still appearing, and duck broods also appear to be late by a week or more.

Spring rainfall was below average throughout the southern Interior. The timing of breeding behaviour was slightly later than normal, due to dry conditions.

In the Peace region, precipitation has been below average since April 1, and area farmers are desperate for rain. Crops are in the ground, but showing some stress with the warm, dry weather. Some wetland projects approached full supply level this spring, but few actually flowed water, and runoff-fed projects are drying fast. Breeding effort has been quite variable between species. Interestingly, despite the fact that spring was generally late and cool, the first goose broods were 9 days earlier than last year and the first mallard broods were 8 days earlier.

Western Boreal Forest

Spring arrived late in northern portions of the region, where wetlands are in average condition. Nesting has started, but the cool weather will likely affect productivity. Precipitation in Fort Simpson has been above average, but other areas such as Norman Wells, Yellowknife, and Hay River experienced less than 50% of their normal precipitation amounts in May.

Water conditions are currently good in the Yukon, although the area has been hot and dry over the last few weeks. Lots of staging birds have been observed there, including large flocks of mallards, wigeons, pintails, and shovelers. Precipitation has been slightly lower than normal in Whitehorse.

Northern regions of Alberta have experienced below normal temperatures through much of the spring. Precipitation was about average for Peace River, but was only 50% of normal for High Level and Edmonton. Waterfowl surveys, which were conducted in the Edson and Grande Prairie area in late May and early June, revealed an average number of waterfowl and average conditions for those areas. A variety of species were observed, including mallards, teals, scaups, goldeneyes, buffleheads, hooded mergansers, and common mergansers, as well as a pair of harlequin ducks!

Melfort and northern Saskatchewan experienced cool and snowy conditions through May, but warmer temperatures have arrived as of mid June. Precipitation has been mostly average for the area, except in Buffalo Narrows and Prince Albert, where precipitation amounts were 140% and 80% of normal, respectively. In some areas, crops will be set back or have already failed due to frosts as of early June. Waterfowl have been observed in good numbers and productivity should be average.

Although precipitation was close to normal in The Pas and in Flin Flon, cooler temperatures may delay nesting, which could result in smaller clutch sizes and fewer renesting attempts. The only broods observed in these areas thus far have been Canada geese.

After a snowy and cold May, spring seems to be arriving in the Duck Mountains region of Manitoba. Waterfowl surveys in the area have revealed average wetland conditions and average numbers of waterfowl. A variety of species were counted, including: goldeneyes, mallards, buffleheads, green-winged teals, blue-winged teals, scaups, shovelers, and wigeons. Based on the number of pairs observed and low numbers of grouped males, it appears thatearly- and late-nesting species are still nesting or renesting. Broods of goldeneyes, mallards and buffleheads have been observed.

Alberta

Since mid-May, most of Alberta has been dry except for scattered showers. Although temperatures have recently warmed to highs of 20 C, some areas were still experiencing overnight frost in early June.

The current dry conditions are a continuation of a trend that started in the fall of 2008. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reports indicate that precipitation has been: 60-85% of average in the Peace Parkland; 40-60% of average for the Boreal Transition Zone and southern Prairie; and less than 40% of average for the Aspen Parkland and northern Prairie. These conditions have prompted some areas in the Aspen Parkland to declare a local state of agricultural disaster.

Field reports indicate that the southern Prairie has received almost 50mm of rain in the past two weeks. This has stimulated grass growth but has had minimal effects on wetland water levels. Elsewhere, water levels continue to decline, although they are still not as bad as in 2002. Field offices report numerous requests for pasture as forage production and supply may become an issue.

The annual US Fish and Wildlife Service / Canadian Wildlife Service spring breeding waterfowl survey was completed at the end of May. Data from the survey is not yet available, but conditions were reported to be drier than 2008. As a result of the spring conditions and continuing dry weather, the current waterfowl productivity potential for Alberta is below average. Field staff have spotted broods of mallards, northern pintails, common goldeneyes, and buffleheads over the past week or so.

Saskatchewan

Very dry conditions persist in regions along the western border, where essentially no rain has fallen. Pastures in this area are brown and not growing, and there are very few wetlands holding water. However, wetland conditions are improved in the Thickwood Hills area, which has experienced several rain events. Conditions are even better in the Allan / Dana Hills and in other southern regions of the province, and late spring snows and recent rainfall have helped to maintain wetland water levels in the Missouri Coteau.

Broods in the 1A to 1C age classes have been observed across the province with mallards and northern pintails being the most frequently observed broods. Reports from the SpATS study near Lake Alma (Missouri Coteau) indicate that about 180 nests have been located, of which only 6 have hatched, so peak hatch should be in the next couple of weeks. Very few diver broods have been observed to date. Until this week, temperatures have been below normal, which likely delayed nest initiation for some species. Overall, productivity should be poor in the northwest but good in the Coteau, southeast and east central parts of the province.

Seeding has now been completed across the province and spring planted crops are just now beginning to emerge. Cool temperatures limited growth of crops early this summer, but predictions are calling for warmer weather this week.

Manitoba

Weather has been cool and unsettled in southwest Manitoba, with temperatures dipping below or near zero several times over late May and early June. This is expected to have some negative effects on brood survival, especially for early-nesting species.

The first pintail brood was observed on May 28 and the first mallard brood was spotted on June 2. A canvasback brood was also observed on June 13 and Canada goose broods continue to be a common sight. Preliminary sightings provide support, albeit anecdotal, for the idea that early-hatched broods tend to be smaller than normal.

Rain has been common and most of the primary breeding range of southwest Manitoba has received average rainfall. Wetland conditions remain favourable, although southern portions of the Virden pothole region and western portions of the Killarney pothole region are faring slightly worse.

Seeding has been dramatically delayed due to wet conditions and a late spring. Crop and forage growth is delayed and this is especially evident in the more northern Minnedosa / Shoal Lake pothole region.

Ontario

Habitat conditions throughout southern Ontario are still in very good shape as the hatch gets underway. The majority of this region has received 115 – 150% more precipitation than normal this spring, and rainfall occurs there every few days. Permanent wetlands are abundant and generally at full supply across the southern region. There are a few exceptions to this wet trend, however, including the extreme southeast and along the Niagara Peninsula. Although precipitation has been below average in these areas, wetlands are still in decent shape. Temperatures, on the other hand, have been much colder than normal. While this has delayed haying in some areas, which should benefit nesting success, it could also have an impact on early duckling survival.

Water levels in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Ontario remain above their respective long term monthly averages, while those of Lake Huron and Lake Superior continue to be lower than normal. Although conditions in northeast Ontario are wetter than those in the northwest, temperatures have been well below average across the north (including the Hudson Bay Lowlands), which will likely have an impact on productivity in the region.

Waterfowl broods are beginning to appear throughout the landscape and are providing some early hints regarding reproduction outcomes. Good numbers of newly hatched wood ducks have been observed, suggesting a strong wood duck breeding effort in response to the wet landscape. Unfortunately, many of these broods are being subjected to cold, rainy weather, which may be affecting their survival. Mallard brood sightings have been generally sparse. Given that numerous mallard pairs are still being observed in the field, it appears that a last ditch renesting effort may be underway, possibly due, in part, to nest loss as a result of flooding from frequent rain events.

Quebec

Spring temperatures have been colder than normal, especially in northern regions, which have been 2 C colder on average. In general, monthly precipitation was close to or below normal for all regions except in portions of Montreal and the Ottawa River Valley. Despite the poor amount of precipitation, the mean St. Lawrence level remained high for this time of the year and major water courses and wetlands have a good water supply.

Risks of nest flooding have been low overall. Hatching period and effort seem to be normal or slightly later this year, but productivity should be good or better than last year. Resident Canada geese nest numbers are very abundant in the Ottawa River Valley region. Habitat conditions remain good to very good across Quebec and a high water level will ensure a good rearing period.

Bylot Island is experiencing a normal spring season, with mild temperatures and normal snowpack. Fewer snow geese are present than usual for this time of the year, but good breeding conditions are anticipated.

Atlantic Canada

Cooler than normal spring temperatures have continued into June, but more seasonal summer temperatures are expected. Precipitation amounts have been normal and are predicted to remain so. The Saint John River is still running a bit high.

Atlantic surveys indicate good breeding potential for black ducks and mallards. The first black duck brood (1A class) was spotted near Sackville, New Brunswick on May 13. On May 27, a 1B mallard brood was observed in western Prince Edward Island and a resident 1B Canada goose brood was observed in eastern Prince Edward Island.

Resident Canada geese are booming in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Several pairs of gadwall were observed in southeast New Brunswick this spring and groups of males were observed on the Tantramar River last week. Reports along the Saint John River floodplain indicate increased nesting success in cavity nesting species such as wood duck, common goldeneye, and hooded merganser. In general, numbers for most waterfowl species were above the 2008 estimates.

Long range weather forecasts call for seasonal temperatures and normal precipitation. Very good productivity is predicted, given favorable spring habitat conditions and reports of early and numerous broods. Overall, conditions in the Atlantic region are very good.

Prepared by Meagan Hainstock, based on reports provided by the following field contacts:

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Goose Researchers Report Late Nesting Year

Ducks, Habitat and Hunters

Deadbeat Ducks

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:21:25 GMT

Home alone. A young mallard is left to fend for himself.

Abandonment, egg dumping and foster ducklings make it a wild summer for waterfowl

Most waterfowl species hens are devoted mothers. However, sometimes a hen leaves her brood before the ducklings fledge. She does this to have enough time to molt and replenish fat reserves before fall migration. And some hens skip the parenting program altogether.

NEST PARASITISIM

Several waterfowl — including redheads, canvasbacks, wood ducks, ruddy ducks, hooded mergansers and snow geese — pursue a breeding strategy known as nest parasitism. This is where females lay eggs in the nests of other females of the same species.

Female redheads regularly lay eggs in the nests of other duck species. In one study conducted on Manitoba’s Delta Marsh, more than 90 percent of canvasback nests contained redhead eggs. The unsuspecting foster hens raise the redhead ducklings as their own.

A mallard hen and brood containing a redhead duckling (the yellow duckling) seen near Rosholt, South Dakota.

Close-up of the mallard brood, redhead duckling trailing.

EGG DUMPING

The normal clutch size for wood ducks is 10 to 15 eggs. Yet researchers have found up to 50 eggs in some wood duck nest boxes. The result of eggs laid by multiple hens. This is "egg dumping" or what biologists call intraspecific (same species) brood parasitism. Egg dumping is often the result of things like inexperienced females, nest predation and lack of available nest sites.

Dumping occurs when a female - frequently a first-year breeder - follows another hen to a nest site during the egg-laying period. The visiting bird is stimulated to lay eggs in the nest of the other hen. In the wild, this impulse is kept in check, because most ducks normally nest in isolated locations. However the placement of wood duck boxes in high visible locations can generate this behavior.

A hen whose nest is dumped with too many eggs may abandon it. The result is a huge wasted reproductive effort. In a natural scenario, approximately 80 percent of eggs hatch. But where egg dumping is out of control, hatch rates may drop to as low as 10 percent.

Artificial nest boxes are often mistakenly placed too close together and in highly visible locations. This makes egg dumping common, and overall reproductive success plummets. It is critical to locate nest boxes in isolated locations. If wood ducks are very rare in the area, it may be necessary to place boxes in open areas initially to encourage use, and then move them to more secretive locations as the population increases.

BABY SITTERS

In some waterfowl species, including lesser scaup, common eiders, and Canada geese, two or more broods may congregate in a crèche under the supervision of several hens (in the case of ducks) or sets of parents (in the case of geese). In some cases, a hen or pair will abandon their brood to the care of another or to the group. In eiders, hens take turns watching ducklings while others feed. The babysitting hens are known as “aunts.”

Check out:

Duck Nesting Research

Shotgun Approach to Nesting Success

Renesting: Persistence is crucial to reproductive

Turning up the Heat

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:53:30 GMT

The down surrounding this gadwall nest is clearly visible.

For female waterfowl, hatching a nest requires a big investment of time and energy

In waterfowl, it is the females who are responsible for incubation. Incubation provides the heat needed for embryos to develop inside the eggs of ducks and geese. Because the required temperature range of developing embryos is narrow, parents must commit to a rigorous incubation schedule. As a result, nesting waterfowl must weigh their efforts to meet the needs of developing embryos against such risks as predation, debilitation, and even starvation.

At the beginning of incubation, the female plucks down from her belly and arranges it within the nest for insulation. The resulting bare spot on her belly is called a “brood patch.” A supplemental set of blood vessels develops in this area and allows warm blood to flow near the surface of the skin, passing heat directly to the eggs. Females adjust the temperature of the eggs by altering how often the brood patch comes into contact with them by periodically turning and manipulating the eggs within the nest and by regulating the amount of time spent on the nest.

During incubation, all female waterfowl take breaks. These recesses are infrequent and brief because each time a female leaves the nest, her eggs are at risk of dropping below a safe temperature, overheating, or being discovered by a predator. On average, females leave the nest three times per day, and each recess lasts about an hour. Hens spend most of their recesses feeding and preening. When leaving the nest, females use feathers and other nest materials to cover the eggs like a down blanket to provide insulation and hide them from predators.

The amount of time spent on the nest is influenced by weather, body size, age, condition, and predation. In general, females spend more time on the nest during cold, rainy, and snowy weather. Older females also tend to spend more time on the nest than less experienced females. And females in poor condition spend less time on the nest than those in good condition. Lower nest attentiveness prolongs the incubation period and increases exposure of eggs to predators, resulting in fewer successful hatches.

The incubation period for waterfowl lasts from 21 to 31 days, and females spend from 73 to more than 99 percent of each day on the nest.

To meet the energetic demands of incubation, waterfowl rely on fat and protein stored during spring migration and early in the breeding season. These energy stores are known as endogenous reserves. Large-bodied species such as geese generally spend more time on the nest because they are able to store larger amounts of endogenous reserves. Because, they fast for long periods, burning endogenous reserves to support metabolism, they often lose substantial amounts of weight.

Female snow geese begin nesting before most food sources are available in the arctic and meet an estimated 78 percent of their energy requirements during incubation from endogenous reserves. As a result, they lose up to one-third of their body mass, leaving most birds emaciated by the time the eggs hatch. In some instances, female snow geese actually deplete endogenous reserves and must abandon their nest to survive. A few actually starve to death on the nest. During late springs female snow geese may burn their reserves waiting for the spring thaw and will forgo breeding altogether resulting in what biologists call a “bust year.”

Small-bodied waterfowl on the other hand are limited by their ability to store significant endogenous reserves. They rely less on these stores during incubation because of their short fasting endurance. For example, endogenous reserves account for only 17 percent of the energy used by nesting blue-winged teal, and females lose only 15 percent of their body mass because they spend more time off the nest feeding. Sources of abundant, high-quality food are critical to ducks during incubation because feeding time is restricted and they rely little on endogenous reserves.

Females incubate their eggs in relative silence. Then, one or two days before hatching, clicking and peeping sounds are emitted from the eggs. I’ll talk more about hatch next week.

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Life in the Egg

To breed or not to breed. That is the question.

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:06:27 GMT

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.”

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The Amazing Journey

Delayed Goose Production in 2009

Where DU Works

A View from above: Part IV

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:13:33 GMT

Graphic from the Ducks Unlimited Magazine July/August 1990.

Last blog I mentioned there was a classic essay written by a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist in 1951 that is one of the best explanations of duck production ever penned. That biologist was Johnny J. Lynch.

Lynch started his waterfowl career in 1936 when he served as a biologist on federal refuges from the Dakotas to Louisiana. He was one of the pioneers in breeding ground surveys from the Arctic to the Prairie Provinces of Canada.

Photo Courtesy of Flyways, USFWS.

Lynch was among the first waterfowl biologists to understand how climate, land use, and geography affect duck nesting success. Lynch encapsulated much of his knowledge about breeding ducks in an internal USFWS report titled Escape from Mediocrity, which he penned in 1951. Having little patience for dry, technical writing, he used plainspoken vernacular throughout the report for emphasis. It remains one of the most informative essays about ducks ever written.

Lynch wrote:

“the real important part of the Big Duck Factory is the BOP,” which Lynch penned as short for Bald Open Prairie (what we call the Prairie Grasslands).

This area is a big wad of grasslands, about 100,000 square miles worth, lying in the heart of the Prairie Provinces in western Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta , and running down a ways into Montana and North Dakota . It is genuine prairie, or at least was, until the wheat farmer found out how easy it was to plow this land on account of there were no stumps. On account of there was no trees.

On rare occasions the BOP gets dripping wet, and goes into real production. When this happens, the adjoining Big Crow Factory (BCF – What we call the Parklands) is usually even wetter, and its production also shoots up. Their combined productivity gives us a Super-Crop that year and gives the duck population a shot in the arm.”

Lynch goes on to say that most years, we have to be content with a pretty mediocre crop of ducks. Because the grasslands of the Big Duck Factory, the part that could make all the difference, is shut down for alterations such as raising grain or else there is not enough water for its boilers. This throws the entire load onto the BCF and Big Fish Factory (Parklands and Boreal Forest respectively) of the Duck Factory.

Many of Lynch's assertions are certainly correct. The truths about duck production in the 1950s still hold today. But the advent of modern agricultural machinery and our capacity to change landscapes, land-use practices must change, as well as weather, for improved duck production. During the drier times when the BOP is out of production, we need to protect basins (Clean Water Restoration Act) and uplands (Sodsaver and RTDF) so we can have viable wetlands and nesting cover when the rains return to the prairies.

Waterfowlers may be discouraged that a factor out of our control –Climate– dictates that management alone is a long way from producing a bumper crop each year. However, they can be optimistic that their dedication to conservation, even through dry cycles, can pay off when water returns to the prairies (seen as recently as in 1994-1999).

In 1951 Lynch proposed that “Plain, ordinary H-two-Oh” on the prairie determined the size of the duck crop.

The spring and summer of 2009 will be a good test of that theory as all indications are the prairies are quite wet. We will have to await the release of the official numbers from the 2009 May pond and breeding pair counts to give us further insight as to just how true that proposition was.

Check Out:

Delayed Goose Production in 2009

A View From Above Part I

A View From Above Part II

A View From Above Part III

Habitat Conditions Canada May

Trends in Duck Breeding Populations 1955-2008

Goose Production in 2009

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:57:06 GMT

I have spent a bit of time in the sub-arctic regions of the Hudson Bay, St. James Bay and the Boreal Forest north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. These are truly wild places, some of North America’s last frontiers. For the millions of waterfowl, other migratory waterbirds and billions of landbirds the thousands of lakes and wetlands provide critical breeding, staging and molting habitats.

Most populations of geese and swans in North America nest in the Arctic or subarctic regions of Alaska and northern Canada. The annual production of young by northern-nesting geese is greatly influenced by weather conditions on the breeding grounds, especially the timing of spring snow melt and its impact on the initiation of nesting activity. Persistent snow cover reduces nest site availability, delays nesting activity, and often results in depressed reproductive effort and productivity.

Important goose nesting areas in Arctic and subarctic North America (Source USFWS).

In general, goose productivity is better than average if nesting begins by late May in western and central portions of the Arctic, and by early June in the eastern Arctic. Production usually is poor if nest initiations are delayed much beyond June 15^th.

Similar to what drought means to the prairie, heavy snow and a late spring thaw can mean a bust for many of these arctic nesting species.

From a duck perspective, the record snow cover in portions of the prairies in 2009 signaled an optimistic outlook for production. Resulting wet conditions in the U.S. prairies and into portions of southern Canada should be favorable for ducks that have arrived already to begin the 2009 nesting season.

The same is not true, however, from the standpoint of geese arriving on northern breeding grounds. Check out the link below as Ducks Unlimited's Chief Biologist Dale Humburg discusses current conditions.

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Delayed Goose Production in 2009

Hudson Bay Project

A view from above - Part III

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:21:28 GMT

Upon arriving in the prairie pothole country in early spring, ducks find a cold and often frozen landscape. To prairie nesting ducks, the spring thaw can provide a virtual paradise of spring wetlands, or a dry, barren desert.

The prairie grasslands have great productivity during wet years. However the parklands, stretching across the northern half of the pothole region in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta and the Boreal Forest (covering two-thirds of Canada) also provide critically important breeding habitat, particularly when the prairie is dry.

Ecoregions of the Prairie Pothole Region.

Parkland and boreal wetlands typically have more stable water levels and, consequently, provide more reliable habitat for breeding waterfowl than do prairie wetlands, which are more frequently impacted by drought. As a result, the parklands support more breeding ducks on average than the grasslands, making the region a high-priority conservation area.

Whether on the prairies, parklands or boreal forest, shallow spring wetlands are particularly critical to nesting ducks. Because they are shallow, they warm with the first hint of spring and melt before all others. These wetlands are critical for attracting early-arriving ducks to settle in an area and are very important food sources.

We understand from May surveys that duck pair densities are associated with the number of spring wetlands– more wetlands typically means more duck pairs that settle in the area.

We also know shallow wetlands are the first to be adversely affected by drought, farming practices, and development (they are easier to drain and can often be cropped during dry years). Unfortunately, even in remote areas like the boreal forest shallow wetlands are coming under increasing pressure from development and even climate change.

As the surveys indicate, climate drives the boom and bust cycle of breeding waterfowl on the prairies, and, therefore, continental waterfowl populations as a whole. In wet years, ducks can be found in great numbers and experience good production. However, if droughts exist or wetland and grassland habitat is lost duck breeding numbers and production are certain to decline.

Photo Essay of 2009 Nesting Research

Early reports indicate the prairie wetlands are extremely wet in 2009. Despite the immense loss of grassland habitat on the prairies in the last few years (The prairies are under siege like no time since the mid-1970s, when U.S. farmers were urged to plow “fencerow-to-fencerow.”) the production outlook is brighter than in recent years.

There was a classic essay written by a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist in 1951 that is one of the best explanations of duck production ever penned. I’ll tell you a bit more about that biologist and the report in my next blog. For now know that some things haven’t changed. Weather and habitat conditions on the prairies remain the two most important factors influencing duck populations.

The USFWS May pond and breeding pair count report generally is released in early July. Until then I can only speculate that we will see a large increase in ponds and strong numbers of breeding ducks this season.

Check Out:

A View From Above Part I

A View From Above Part II

Habitat Conditions Canada May

Trends in Duck Breeding Populations 1955-2008

The Amazing Journey: Following one hen throughout its annual cycle reveals much about the key habitat challenges facing waterfowl

A View From Above - Part II

Wed, 27 May 2009 19:43:10 GMT

A pair of mallards loaf on a prairie wetland.

What have we learned from the May Surveys

Because of the recognized importance of the PPR and other breeding areas to duck populations, surveys of habitat conditions and breeding populations were developed early on. The May survey data gives us a fifty-year look at the interaction of habitat, water and ducks, it’s essentially a landscape-scale experiment in waterfowl ecology.

The dotted red line represents the average.

While you can derive and average from the data there truly is no average year in the PPR.

During the 53 years that biologists have tracked continental breeding populations, we have witnessed three peaks in duck populations, and two valleys. These three peaks have one thing in common— they all occurred during wet cycles on the northern prairie. More wetlands are good news for anything with webbed toes. No surprise in that.

Data courtesy of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Thus far, the pattern has been remarkably cyclic. Valleys of about 23 million ducks, peaks of roughly 40 million, and an average breeding population index of about 33 million birds.

When you overlay the duck breeding population from the previous slide, now shown in yellow, you can see how closely breeding populations tracks the pond numbers. During wet years we typically see a strong response by the birds – an increase in the number of birds attempting to breed.

From these initial surveys we know the breeding ground wetlands can be boom or bust due to periodic droughts that can not be avoided. We also recognize all the forces of waterfowl management together cannot manage enough dry habitat to keep populations from declining during drought.

In 2008, pond counts for the United States and Canada combined showed 4.4 million ponds, a 37 percent decrease from the 2007 estimate, and 10 percent lower than the long-term average. The total number of ducks was 37.3 million birds, which was 9 percent below last years estimate, but remained 11 percent above the 1955-2008 long-term average.

Until now we have been fortunate that, despite ongoing losses of habitat, most prairie waterfowl populations are in better shape than they have been since surveying breeding birds began in the 1950s. Between 1994 and 1999, duck numbers increased by 69 percent after water returned to core breeding areas. Proving again that when moisture is plentiful and there is sufficient wetland and upland habitat, duck production can rebound.

Today however, we have to ask; can this kind of rebound still occur?

With the loss of millions acres of CRP and native prairie, grasslands are quickly disappearing.

Further, due to the loss of Clean Water Act protections in 2001, millions of acres of wetlands are in danger of being polluted or drained because they are considered "geographically isolated"—even though these areas are critical for America's drinking water and waterfowl habitat.

In Canada where there is little wetland protection. Seasonal and ephemeral wetlands are often cropped in dry years and are surrounded by sparse vegetation. This has lead to increased siltation and contamination of these shallow wetlands. The end result is that even when they do contain water, they are far less productive than they were historically.

Only conservation and restoration on a regional scale can affect the wetlands and grasslands that birds depend upon.

Conservation includes protecting and restoring grassland and wetland habitat as well as integrating waterfowl management with farming operations by working with farmers and ranchers who make a living from the land. Proactive conservation programs must also be developed for the long-term along with public policy that benefits both waterfowl and agriculture.

In short if spring wetlands are removed from the landscape, ducks have little incentive to settle in an area, even in wet years. And, without sufficient grasslands in their traditional breeding areas, the likely hood they will be successful nesting decreases as does their populations ability to recover as they have in years past.

Check Out:

A View From Above Part I

Habitat Conditions Nort Central US

Habitat Conditions Canada May

Learn more about USFWS Pilot-Biologists

Trends in Duck Breeding Populations 1955-2008

Adaptive Harvest Management

Waterfowl Population Status 2008

Bird Conservation Planning Position Available

Wed, 27 May 2009 20:13:11 GMT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) is seeking an individual for a 13 month position as a GS-0486-11 (Wildlife Biologist) with an option to extend the position for up to 4 years. HAPET is located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and provides science-based habitat management decision support to FWS and partner field and program managers in the eastern Prairie Pothole Region. This requires the development of ecological models of species-habitat relationships for birds and other taxa, analysis of spatial data using GIS, coordination of ecoregional-scale monitoring programs and facilitation of research to test planning assumptions.

For the position advertised here, special emphasis will be given to working with partners to develop explicit objectives for populations and other ecological functions, compiling existing spatially explicit models using GIS into comprehensive landscape designs for partnership-based conservation delivery. A strong practical knowledge of ecological models and GIS techniques is desired.

This is potentially an excellent gateway into a permanent scientist or spatial analyst position at a higher grade. Candidates with a PhD or MS and relevant experience are especially encouraged to apply.

The job announcement and application instructions are available on USAJOBS through May 31, 2009 at:

http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=80806094&JobTitle=Wildlife+Biologist&q=wildlife+biologist&sort=rv%2c-dtex&vw=b&re=134&FedEmp=N&FedPub=Y&jbf565=&caller=default.aspx&AVSDM=2009-05-16+12%3a32%3a00

Spring Habitat Conditions in Canada

Fri, 22 May 2009 05:02:49 GMT

May 2009

Although runoff was below average or delayed in some areas of British Columbia, the usual migrants have passed through, including a high number of Tundra swans. In the Yukon and Northwest Territories, water bodies are opening up and migration is ongoing. Normal spring migration is also underway in Alberta, bu tbreeding effort appears to be slow, possibly due to dry conditions in many areas. Spring wetland conditions range from poor to excellent in Saskatchewan, where cooler temperatures have likely delayed waterfowl nesting in some areas. Conditions are still favourable in southwest Manitoba and May pond counts should be good throughout the main breeding range. Favourable conditions have also continued in southern Ontario, although preliminary waterfowl surveys suggest that pair numbers are near normal to slightly down. The number of snow geese migrating through Quebec was slightly below normal, but precipitation was above average in many regions. Colder temperatures do not appear to have affected breeding efforts in Atlantic Canada, where long range forecasts are predicting more seasonable weather.

WESTERN REGION

British Columbia

Snow packs were below average along the coast, particularly at mid and high elevations. Spring precipitation has also been lower than normal, and peak flows in the Fraser River are expected to be lower than normal. On the Delta, farmers are busy tilling and planting their fields for the summer season. The majority of waterfowl species, including wigeon, mallard, snow goose, swan, and shoveler, have migrated northward. Resident Canada geese, pintail, wood duck, and mallard are well-advanced into the nesting stage.

Habitats are in good shape in the central Interior, where many project wetlands are at or exceeding full supply level. Runoff was average in most areas, although a bit delayed due to unseasonably cold temperatures. At lower elevations, there is flooding in large river valleys, such as the San Jose. Higher elevation wetlands are melting as normal, and birds are spreading out to use these habitats. Despite the cold spring, birds appear to be initiating nests at the usual time. Runoff was below average in the southern Interior, and many wetlands are now at early summer levels. Recharge of aquifers also appears lower than normal judging from low levels of groundwater-fed wetlands. The timing of breeding behavior appears normal, and mallards are nesting. Runoff was also below average in the southeast Interior. In the Peace region, runoff was below average and only a few projects released excess water. There was only trace precipitation in April, and May rain has totaled less than half an inch so far. Large groups of migrants are passing through and Tundra swan numbers were notably high this year. Although breeding effort is difficult to gauge this early, Canada geese are nesting.

Western Boreal Forest

Spring has finally made an appearance in the Yukon. Many of the small creeks and rivers are opening up, as well as some of the larger rivers in the south. Small ponds are becoming ice free and birds are beginning to settle. Migration is still ongoing, with peak swan migration passing about 2 weeks ago, and duck and goose migration really picking up last week. With such high levels of snow in the south, there should be lots of water. Many flooded ditches are holding a few birds along the highway. Canvasback, goldeneye, bufflehead, mallard, and wigeon, as well as herring and mew gulls, have all been observed.

The ice on rivers around Yellowknife, Northwest Territories is melting a bit faster than last year, but thanks to this winter's heavy snowfall there is still snow on the ground in treed areas and in areas that aren't exposed to direct sunlight. Yellowknife had 127% of normal precipitation for April, while Hay River was normal for the same period. Most lakes are still completely frozen, although there is some open water along shorelines. Smaller rivers are opening up, but not completely. The Hay River broke on May 6, so water is now flowing into Great Slave Lake. The Mackenzie River could break as far downstream as Norman Wells by mid-May. Groups of dabblers (mostly mallards and pintails) and some mergansers were observed along the smaller open rivers.

In northern Alberta, some areas experienced near normal or above normal precipitation for April. Spring has been slow in arriving in northern Saskatchewan, with cooler than normal temperatures and single day snowfalls of 3-4 inches falling in the Melfort area. While most of the snow has now melted, snow banks persist in tree lines and on some north facing slopes.

The ice has retreated from all but the larger lakes and wetlands. Waterfowl have arrived in very large flocks of Canada geese and snow geese, and in lesser numbers of ducks. Mallard, scaup, canvasback, pintail, goldeneye, shoveler and teal have all been observed. In more northern regions, Key Lake received 117% of normal precipitation for April, Buffalo Narrows was at about normal, and Prince Albert and La Ronge received less than 20% of normal precipitation.

In northern Manitoba, total precipitation was above normal for April in The Pas. With a colder than average spring though, many of the larger wetlands around The Pas remain approximately 50-75% ice covered. Spring arrival and nesting for waterfowl is likewise delayed. Canada geese have been spotted east of The Pas with larger numbers in agricultural lands. A variety of waterfowl have been spotted on shallow water, as well as in areas along the Saskatchewan River where no ice is remaining. Mallard, pintail, goldeneye, shoveler, bufflehead, canvasback, lesser scaup, ring neck and common merganser have all been sighted. In contrast to the precipitation received in The Pas, Flin Flon registered only 10% of normal for April. In late April, there was still up to a foot of snow in the Duck Mountains, where most ponds were still frozen.

Alberta

The cool, dry weather has continued into May, and precipitation totals from April 1 to present have been less than 85% of normal across most of the province. The exceptions to this generality are in portions of the Boreal Transition Zone and the Peace Parkland, where average precipitation has occurred. In large areas of the Aspen Parkland and Prairie, precipitation totals are less than 60% of normal. The dry conditions have been accompanied by moderate to strong winds, creating further drying and evaporative losses. Recently, scattered showers have tempered the dry conditions but have been insufficient to delay spring seeding operations.

Field reports indicate wetland projects are close to full supply level in the Peace Parkland. Runoff was low and there was little recharge in temporary and seasonal ponds. In the Aspen Parkland, conditions are dry overall. Large brush fires have occurred in areas northeast of Edmonton. Wetland projects are generally below full supply level and pothole wetlands received minimal recharge this spring. Water levels in semi-permanent pothole wetlands are generally below the emergent vegetation. Slightly better conditions prevail in the Viking Moraine. The dry spring conditions continue into the north Prairie, although conditions improve somewhat in the south Prairie. Some areas of the Prairie region did receive a couple of spring snow events, but most of the moisture associated with these went into the ground. Of particular note is the area east of Calgary to Strathmore and south about 130km, which received above average snow this winter and spring, and had a timely melt.

Field reports indicate that normal spring migration is underway. Canada geese are nesting, and flocks of snow geese, white-fronted geese and swans are moving through the Boreal Transition Zone and Peace Parkland to their boreal and arctic breeding grounds. Bluewinged and green-winged teal have returned to all areas in the past two weeks. Other morerecent arrivals include lesser scaup, ringed necked and ruddy ducks. Breeding effort by early nesters appears to be slow.

Saskatchewan

Overall, spring wetland habitat conditions across Saskatchewan range from poor to excellent, with good to very good conditions in southern portions of the Missouri Coteau and in the Allan / Dana Hills. The southern Coteau and portions of the parklands received heavy, wet snow last week, which helped to improve wetland conditions there. Most wetlands in these areas are flooded up to the emergent vegetation zone. Moisture is needed across the province, but most urgently in some southwest and west central areas.

Temperatures have been below normal for the last couple of weeks. The cool temperatures this spring likely delayed waterfowl nesting. Most species of ducks have returned, including ruddy ducks and blue-winged teal. Of those duck nests located by DUC staff, most appear to be in the laying stage. The shallow basins in the southeast part of the province have been attracting a lot of northern pintails, and this is the first time in several years those basins have held water. Most Canada geese are incubating eggs, but no goslings have been seen to date. There are still migrant geese moving through the province, and flocks of snow geese and white-fronted geese have been seen, especially around the Quill Lakes area.

Seeding is underway and about 4% of the province is seeded. This is a little behind compared to historic averages, but temperatures have warmed up and producers will be busy in the fields this week. Wetland drainage is still a concern, as producers have been seen on the landscape digging ditches.

Manitoba

More seasonal, yet still cooler, temperatures have replaced the slow arrival of spring and birds have wasted no time in settling and nesting. Conditions in the southwest remain unchanged from last report and are favorable throughout the region, but more rain will be needed in southerly regions to maintain wetland levels.

Since the lengthened runoff, much of southwest Manitoba has received average precipitation. Ephemeral wetlands and Class II basins are now void of standing water and seeding is well underway in most of this region. The Virden region is under similar conditions and seeding has just begun in this region. More precipitation will be needed in the southern portions of the Virden landscape, as well as in the Killarney pothole region, to maintain favorable wetland conditions. Good soil moisture and wetland conditions remain in the Minnedosa / Shoal Lake pothole region and some ephemeral and Class II wetlands are still inundated. Seeding has been negligible in this area thus far.

May pond counts are expected to be good throughout the main breeding range of southwest Manitoba. Waterfowl have wasted no time in setting up territories and initiating nesting once the onset of spring arrived. Resident Canada geese are about half way through incubating. Territorial activities by mallards appeared to peak around April 23 - 28 and lone drakes and grouped drakes are common, indicating a delayed but good initial nesting effort for waterfowl in Manitoba. The first goose hatched on the roof of the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre on May 12.

Winter wheat has had good winter survivability throughout the region and good growth is now noticeable in southern regions. Natural cover has showed little growth this far due to the late spring and cooler than normal temperatures prevailing.

EASTERN REGION

Ontario

Regular rain events during April and early May continue to maintain favourable wetland conditions across southern Ontario. While the central part of the province has been the recipient of the wettest weather this spring, receiving up to 200% of their average precipitation since April 1, the rest of southern Ontario is not far behind. These soaking rainfalls continue to sustain seasonal wetlands and maintain permanent habitats at full supply. Despite seeing showers every three to four days, fields are not sloppy due to warmer than normal temperatures. However, corn planting has been slowed and as such, only about 10% of the Ontario corn crop is in the ground. Temperatures and precipitation have been normal for northeast Ontario, including the Clay belt region. However, much of the northwest has received only 40 to 85 % of its average spring precipitation and has been subjected to below average temperatures. Despite these differences, conditions remain pretty good for breeding waterfowl throughout the north. Breeding along the Hudson Bay coast may be later than normal because of cooler temperatures, but it should be more typical around James Bay where temperatures have been more seasonal. Water levels in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and Lake Ontario are all above their respective long term averages; however, those of Lake Huron and Lake Superior are lower than normal but are 28 and 5 cm higher, respectfully, than a year ago.

Despite good wetland conditions and favourable temperatures, preliminary observations from waterfowl surveys across southern Ontario suggest that pair numbers are near normal to slightly down. On a positive note, however, early surveys indicate that black duck numbers are strong in the central and northeast parts of the province. Hatching is well underway for Canada geese, with sightings of goslings being reported across the south.

Quebec

Spring arrived early, except in Abitibi and North shore regions where the spring season seems more normal. Throughout the province, average temperatures were higher than normal. Total monthly precipitation also exceeded the norm in most regions, except in the Eastern townships and around Montreal and Quebec, where precipitation was 30%, 3%, and 3% below the average, respectively. Snow precipitation was generally close to or below average in April, except in northern parts of the province, where precipitation was with 30% above normal. Due to a combination of mild weather and rapid snow melt, runoff throughout the province was complete by mid-April.

The rise of the St. Lawrence River was close to the norm in April, which helped to avoid any flooding of early nesters. The St. Lawrence water level at Sorel station is still close to the average, which is good and insures a good water supply in water courses and wetlands.

Ducks have been observed in pairs, and flocks of male mallards have been observed on wetlands and along the St. Lawrence River, which indicates a good breeding effort. Peak migration for snow geese occurred on May 3, with 32,000 geese in Cap Tourmente, which is slightly below normal. Local breeding Canada geese have been nesting in Varennes archipelago since the end of April. The St. Peter Lake staging habitats was full of pintail and blue-winged teal.

Atlantic Canada

Spring weather conditions have been unseasonal, and the entire region has experienced colder then normal temperatures and many spring showers. Breeding pair surveys are underway and early reports are favourable. Early survey reports indicate a number of early nesters throughout the region, and colder temperatures do not appear to have affected breeding efforts. Long range forecasts are predicting more seasonable weather over the region, and we expect to see many broods of ducks in the wetlands across the region as weather conditions improve. Water levels within DUC wetlands are very favourable for waterfowl, and the high water levels in the Saint John River have begun to subside. Overall, conditions for the Atlantic Region are good.

Prepared by Meagan Hainstock, based on reports provided by the following field staff:

British Columbia – Bruce Harrison'
Alberta – Ian McFarlane
Saskatchewan – Michael Hill
Manitoba – Mark Francis
Western Boreal Forest – Brent Friedt
Ontario – Scott Muir
Quebec – Patrick Harbour
Atlantic Canada – Wade Lewis

Check Out:

NOAA Snow map

U.S. Drought Monitor

Canada Drought Monitor

A view from above

Mon, 18 May 2009 20:21:17 GMT

USFWS pilot-biologist Fred Roetker's Cessna float plane.

The May Pond and Breeding Pair Count begins this month. This will be Part I of a three part series.

This month, hundreds of conservation professionals from throughout North America will take part in the annual May Waterfowl Breeding Populations Survey–the world’s longest-running and most comprehensive wildlife survey. The bulk of the data collected during the survey is gathered by an elite corps of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) pilot-biologists and observers who physically count waterfowl and assess habitat conditions from the air on major breeding areas from South Dakota to Alaska, In total, these two-man crews fly more than 60,000 air miles during the course of this survey.

The survey uses aerial transects lying on an east-west axis; transects are 0.40 km wide, up to 241 km long, and broken into 29 km segments. The transects are spaced within specific strata; the length and density of the transects vary according to the quantity and quality of habitat. The traditional survey area comprises 52 sampling areas (strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77 equaling 1.3 million square miles) across Alaska, Canada, and the north-central United States. The eastern survey area (Strata 51-56 and 62-69) includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, New York, and Maine.

This survey is the start of the "waterfowl year" in terms of data collection. This aerial survey provides annual breeding population estimates for most duck species in North America, an assessment of breeding habitat conditions, triggering levels for harvest regulation through Adaptive Harvest Management and an assessment of population objectives in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. It costs around $262,000 and takes 1,300 man days to complete (Cooperative Migratory Bird Surveys in North America – 2002).

The May Survey began in 1946, but methods were not standardized until 1955, which therefore marks the benchmark year from which long-term trends are now evaluated.

The same transects are flown every year. Flight altitude is generally between 100-150 feet and speed between 90-105 mph. Because even trained observers will not see all the ducks present, concurrent ground surveys are conducted on a portion of the survey transects to develop a correction factor for calibrating the number of ducks seen from the air with those counted on the ground.

Flight altitude is generally between 100-150 feet and speed between 90-105 mph.

Today, technology plays an important role in data collection. Two laptop computers are mounted in the rear of the aircraft. They are wired into the aircraft power system and receive output from the aircraft Global Positioning System (GPS). As each bird or pond observation is recorded directly into a computer file via a microphone, the corresponding location from the GPS is automatically recorded. The GPS also makes it is easier today to stay "on transect".

Data collected for each strata along each established flight path or transect is:

· The number of pair, single ducks and ducks in flocks for each species

· The number of "ponds" or wetlands with water.

These data allow the calculation of an annual index to the number of ducks for each species in the breeding population and habitat status.

Annual estimates of duck abundance are available since 1955 for the traditional survey area and for all strata in the eastern survey area since 1996, although portions of the eastern survey area have been surveyed since 1990. In the traditional survey area, estimates of pond abundance in Prairie Canada are available since 1961 and in the north-central U.S. since 1974.

Preparing for another days flight conducting winter counts in Arkansas.

Having spent four years conducting aerial winter surveys in Arkansas, I have the utmost respect for these pilot-biologists. For more than 50 years these professionals have done an outstanding job upholding biological and statistical rigors as well aviation safety. The migratory bird pilot-biologists that currently conduct spring and summer waterfowl surveys have amassed a combined total of more than 250 years of FWS flight experience and more than 75,000 hours of safe flying, without a fatality.

All indications from up north are that conditions are wet and production should be outstanding.

Here is to another safe year of flying. Good luck!

Check Out:

Habitat Conditions Nort Central US

Habitat Conditions Canada April

Learn more about USFWS Pilot-Biologists

Trends in Duck Breeding Populations 1955-2008

Adaptive Harvest Management

Waterfowl Population Status 2008

In Living Color

Fri, 08 May 2009 21:51:28 GMT

Two drake mallards try there best to impress this female.

Spring is when waterfowl dress their very best. Physical features, such as color and quality, help hens determine the fitness of prospective mates.

Color in birds is produced in two ways. These include pigments (a substance that creates color) or the physical structure of the feathers.

The two main types of pigments – the melanins and lipochromes – produce the various blacks and browns through reds, yellows, greens and violets. There are no blue pigments in feathers. Blues and iridescent colors are the result of fine feather structure in combination with other pigments. A bird’s coloration helps in concealment, recognition, courtship and other social activities.

Sometimes minor plumage color variations occur because of a genetic mutation within the species. One such color variance is a genetic variation known as leucism, also known as partial albinism.

Animals with leucism have reduced pigmentation in their bodies. In waterfowl, leucism most often affects plumage, bill and foot color. Color variation can occur on part or all of the bird and typically happens on both sides of the body. Leucism either is inherited or comes from genetic mutations that occur during development.

Tim Soderquist, DU’s regional director in southeast Texas bagged this leucistic pintail hen during the 2005-06 season.

Occasionally, totally white individuals occur in the wild. These albinos lack normal coloring because the coloring pigments normally found in feathers were not produced during development. True albinism means individuals have no pigment in their skin, feathers or eyes. It occurs in waterfowl but is far rarer than leucism.

Albinos aren’t common in the wild. Albinos in the wild are easy prey, because predators can easily see them. They seldom live long enough to reproduce and pass on their traits.

I caught this leucistic white-fronted goose in a winter wheat field in Arkansas last winter.

Feather Fun Fact: Feathers typically make up about one-sixth of a bird’s weight. Hummingbirds have the fewest feathers (some species have less than a thousand). Some swans, on the other hand, have more than 25,000 feathers.

Check Out:

Blog: All Dressed Up

North America's Other Duck Factory

Tue, 05 May 2009 23:07:35 GMT

The Boreal Forest holds 12 million to 14 million ducks during the breeding season and is especially important to scaup (above), mallard, wigeon, green-winged teal and scoters.

As birds return to their spring breeding grounds many will stop within the Prairie Pothole Region often called the “Duck Factory.” However, each year many will continue north to North America’s "Other Duck Factory,” the Boreal Forest (particularly in years the prairies are dry) .

The Boreal Forest is the world's largest land-based ecosystem and North America’s last wild frontier. The region contains a quarter of the world’s remaining intact forests and 35% of the world’s wetlands. In Canada, it covers two-thirds of the country.

More than 300 species of birds breed in the Boreal Forest including many of our favorite backyard birds such warblers, sparrows, and flycatchers. The Boreal Forest might sound like an unlikely spot for waterfowl, but the myriad of wetlands in the region support nearly one-third of all nesting shorebirds in North America. And no group of birds is more reliant on the Boreal Forest for nesting than waterfowl.

At least 12 and 14 million of ducks breed in this vast region. In some years, this amounts to about 40 percent of the continental duck population. Bufflehead, white-winged scoter, black scoter, surf scoter, and common goldeneye breed almost entirely in the Boreal, where more than 80% of their nesting populations are found. The Boreal Forest is also home to large numbers of dabbling ducks, including more than half of the breeding populations of american wigeon, green-winged teal, and American black duck.

The Boreal Forest is ranked No. 3 of the 25 most important and threatened waterfowl habitats on the continent.

In addition to birds, Canada’s Boreal Forest one of the planet’s largest terrestrial storehouses of carbon, shielding us from global warming.

Unfortunately, the Boreal Forest is steadily being carved up by unchecked oil and gas, mining, logging, and hydro development. While less than 8% of the Boreal is permanently protected, already 30% has been allocated to industry.

In recent years, we have seen long-term declines in many Boreal bird species including waterfowl species like the lesser scaup.

Fortunately, there is still time to ensure that the Boreal remains North America’s other “Duck Factory.” I urge you to checkout the following link.

Sign the Save Our Boreal Birds Petition

Tell the Canadian government that they need to protect the Boreal Forest for the billions of birds that depend on it.

To further help DU conserve the boreal forest; go to the Wetlands for Tomorrow -The Western Boreal Forest Initiative. Or simply call Jon Rich at 901-758-3763. Your donation will help conserve vital boreal wetlands for waterfowl and people.

Check Out:

DU: The Western Boreal Forest Conservation Initiative

The Other Duck Factory

Boreal Song Bird Initiative

Save Our Boreal Birds

I enjoyed a cold morning in the boreal forest with Jared Brown and Director of Conservation Planning Dr. Fritz Reid (September 2007).

Pintail Postdoctoral Opportunity

Tue, 05 May 2009 23:26:05 GMT

Postdoctoral Position

U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Northern Pintail Population Modeling

The U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (Laurel, Maryland) is seeking candidates for a postdoctoral position to develop a spatially-implicit population model for Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) that integrates the effects of habitat and harvest management.

The model will serve as a key component in addressing the challenges posed by recent reviews to better integrate objectives of waterfowl habitat and population management in a single modeling framework. Model development will occur through a process of iterative prototyping, with the initial focus on capturing the right general structure of the model, and detail and functionality added over time. The model design will be driven by the decision contexts provided by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and the setting of annual harvest regulations. We hope that this work will also build a solid platform for developing future population models for other species of conservation concern.

The postdoctoral position will be part of an interagency research team, including scientists from USGS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Environment Canada, UC Davis, and Utah State University, among others. The research team will provide substantial support in the overall framework for the model, access to appropriate data, and review of model details. Travel funds will be provided to support visits with study team members and outside cooperators, to attend regional workshops during model development, and to attend professional conferences.

The ideal candidate will have a background in population modeling, structured decision making, adaptive management, waterfowl population dynamics, and Bayesian hierarchical estimation.

Proficient programming skills are required, with some preference given to candidates with a background in MATLAB. The successful candidate will also have excellent writing and personal communication skills. Applicants are expected to have earned a Ph.D. degree in a relevant discipline, preferably within the last 5 years.

The position will be located in Laurel, Maryland. The desired start date is summer 2009, and the position is funded at least through September 2010, with additional funding likely. The salary level is very competitive.

Applications are due no later than May 29, 2009. If you are interested, send a curriculum vitae, a letter describing your background and interests, and the names of three references to Michael Runge (mrunge@usgs.gov).

For further information, contact either:

Michael Runge (mrunge@usgs.gov), USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, MD 20708-4017 (301) 497-5748

Scott Boomer (scott_boomer@fws.gov), USFWS Division of Migratory Bird Management 11510 American Holly Drive, Laurel, MD 20708 (301) 497-5970

Rocking and flocking for the ducks

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:43:02 GMT

Two days, twelve bands, more than 6,500 people plus a worthy cause equal a unique event called the Budweiser Duck Jam.

Ducks Unlimited and sponsors including Budweiser, Academy Sports, Ozarka Water, Volvo Rental and Global Event Group hosted the fourth annual Budweiser Duck Jam on Friday April 24 and Saturday, April 25. The event was held at the Wolf Pen Creek amphitheatre in College Station, Texas.

The Duck Jam serves as a DU fundraiser for the Aggieland Collegiate Chapter. Like other DU events, proceeds benefit DU conservation efforts and ticket prices include a membership. More than $50,000 dollars is expected to have been raised for waterfowl and wetland conservation at the Duck Jam.

The dedicated volunteers in the Texas A&M chapter and events such as the Duck Jam have allowed this chapter to uphold a reputation as the top college chapter in the U.S. for the last 5 years relative to total dollars raised.

This year Duck Jam was expanded to a two-day event and took on more of an expo feel with additional areas of entertainment. Daytime events were centered around a host of activities designed for family entertainment, including a dedicated kids stage with a Grammy-nominated headliner (Trout Fishing in America), Dock Dogs canine jumping competition, monster truck rides, a bass fishing exhibition trailer, a Texas Parks and Wildlife exhibition trailer and children’s style food vendors. Hands-on crafts, games and youth concession sales benefiting the Brazos Valley Children’s Museum were also available.

A youngster gets a close-up look at some largemouth bass.

Other activities during the two-day event included a Sportsman’s Night Out dinner and raffle, a sanctioned BBQ cook-off, horseshoe and washer tournaments and a crawfish boil complete with music by Dr. Zog Zydeco Swamp Band.

The 2009 music line-up included country legend Clay Walker, Kevin Fowler, Band of Heathens, Bad Company, South Austin Jug Band, Seth James, Brandon Rhyder, Brett Crenshaw, and Shawn Fussell.

My impressions are that the more than 6,500 attendees were thrilled, the bands and sponsors had a great time and the event was a resounding success.

I certainly enjoyed spending time with these dedicated young Texas volunteers. It was really great to see this generation so involved in the future of waterfowling and wetlands conservation and to see folks of all ages enjoying themselves in the name of the ducks.

Check Out:

More information on Budweiser Duck Jam

Duck Jam Video

Get involved with a College Chapter

Duck Jam 2008

More Pictures

A crowd of more then 6,500 attended the Duck Jam 2009.

Duck Jam 2009 was graced with perfect weather.

The Academy Sports portal leading to stage two and other festival activities.

Monster truck rides thrilled riders.

Dock Dogs Jumping Competition.

Texas Parks and Wildlife exhibition trailer.

Texas DU volunteer and BBQ judge Shawn deCento enjoys his duties.

A young fan takes batting practice during an intermission.

Kids stage headliner, Grammy-nominated, Trout Fishing in America sings about dinosaurs.

Kids having fun in the "Kids Zone."

The mobile crawfish stand keeps hungry festival goers satisfied.

The decoys were in the stage moat early awaiting the expected crowd.

Two young fans get the chance to sing a Bad Company classic hit with lead singer Brian Howe.

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSITANTSHIP on BLACK DUCKS

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:16:41 GMT

Title: M.S. GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSITANTSHIP on BLACK DUCK nocturnal behavior and bioenergetics.

Agency: University of Delaware Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology

Website: More information about my research and information for prospective students are available at: http://copland.udel.edu/~ckwillia. For more information about the Department, visit the website http://ag.udel.edu/enwc/.

Job Description: As part of a larger study, a 3-year graduate assistantship will be available at the UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE'S Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology to determine how nocturnal behaviors affect estimates of habitat carrying capacity for wintering and spring staging American black ducks in coastal New Jersey. Research responsibilities will include behavioral observations during both diurnal and nocturnal times and apply data to existing bioenergetics models. Approximate start date is August 1, 2009.

Location: Delaware and New Jersey

Salary: Stipend will be ~$21,000 per year plus a tuition-waiver and reduced cost health benefits.

Qualifications: Qualified applicants should have a B.S. in Zoology or Wildlife Ecology, a minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA, and a minimum combined math/verbal GRE score of 1100. This work will be very difficult as it will involve nocturnal observations out of boats and blinds within tidal estuaries on New Jersey. Therefore I will give strong preference to applicants who have at least one of the following 3 experiences: 1) record of previous research experience, 2) previous technician experience with waterfowl, and 3) experiences with boating and possibly waterfowl hunting as both could give experiences that will assist candidate feeling comfortable in field conditions. Interested individuals should send a cover letter outlining experience and research interests, curriculum vitae, unofficial copies of university transcripts and GRE scores, and contact information for three references to DR. CHRIS WILLIAMS, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, 253 Townsend Hall, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 (PH: 302-831-4592, FAX: 302-831-8889, Email: ckwillia@udel.edu). Applications by e-mail (with electronic copies of requested documents) are preferred.

Start date: August 1, 2009

Application Deadline: May 4, 2009

Contact: Dr. Chris Williams

Phone: 302-831-4592

E-mail: ckwillia@udel.edu(Preferred).

Dressing for success

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:47:44 GMT

Four well dressed ,would be suitors, try to impress a future mate (Ring-necked ducks 2009).

As male waterfowl greatly outnumber female, competition among drakes is intense for the favor of a limited number of hens. Hens apparently seek physically robust mates that are capable of defending them and the pair’s territory throughout the breeding season. Physical features, such as color and quality of feathers, are important indicators used by hens to determine the fitness of prospective mates.

In studies involving pintails, females preferred males with whiter breasts and more colorful wing feathers. Drake pintails pull at the white breast feathers of rivals during courtship fights, so the males with the whiter breasts likely have prevailed in more encounters with other drakes, signaling to the females that they are likely stronger and, therefore, more capable of defending them.

Ducks that reach breeding plumage are said to be in their Alternate I plumage. This feather generation replaces the basic (drab brown) plumage and is the identifying plumage for each species of waterfowl that breed at age 1. In species like wood ducks and mallards, the coloration of this feathering is characteristic of the adult, but the quality, length and coloration of the feathering is less developed than in subsequent Alternate feather generations (>1 year-olds). The Alternate I in many diving duck species juvenile males like mergansers, goldeneyes and scaup, lack the bright colors and distinctive pattern characteristic of the species. The bright plumage (especially white feathers) for these species is not acquired until the second year or sometimes later.

Theoretically, colorful wing and body feathers signify superior conditions in male dabbling. However, just having good looking feathers may not be enough. In a lesson single guys like myself should note, other studies show that female ducks often select the male that courted them more intensively, even in the presence of physically superior males.

Fun Fact: A neutral plumage in ducks is the male or drake plumage. The presence of estrogens suppresses the neutral condition and results in the “henny” plumage. Females with damaged ovaries from parasitism, lead shot, or disease can develop a male like plumage.

Check Out:

More on dressing for success

Waterfowl Biology

Happy Earth Day

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:29:07 GMT

Earth Day gives us a chance to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment, to celebrate accomplishments, but also recognize there is much needed work to conduct.

Awareness is a critical step toward restoration and conservation. People need to understand that wetlands provide critical benefits for hundreds of wildlife species as well as environmental benefits for people; clean water, flood control etc.

Wetland an upland associated habitats of value to wildlife continue to be lost at the substantial rate of tens of thousands of acres every year. Given those concerns, it is vitally important that conservation initiatives such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Clean Water Restoration Act, Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program receive approval and substantial funding. It is also important to remember that we need reasonable and sound regulations in addition to financial support and other incentives to protect and restore the nation’s wetlands and all of the earth’s natural resources.

Earth Day helps us remember these things.

Check Out:

Saving the Great Plains on Earth Day

Carbon, Conservation Reserve Program and Native Prairie

Clean Water Restoration Act

On Earth Day, Endangered Ecosystem still lacks protection

Wood Duck Nest Boxes: Yesterday, today and tomorrow…

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:20:33 GMT

Randy Bouldin, 17, shovels dirt around the base of a wood-duck nesting box he installed on a small island at Ducks Unlimited.

A little history:

In pre-colonial times, the wood duck (Aix sponsa) was likely the most abundant waterfowl species in eastern North America. Extensive clearing North of America’s virgin hardwood forests east of the Great Plains (most were cut between 1870 and 1930) significantly reduced habitat for woodland wildlife, especially species dependent on mature forest characteristics like wood ducks. Their distribution within densely settled regions also made them readily accessible to market hunters throughout the year.

By 1895, wood duck populations declined sharply, and in 1913 a presidential proclamation granted the species complete protection.

In 1937, the U.S. Biological Survey (now Fish and Wildlife Service) introduced a large scale wood duck nest box program along the Illinois River. High use of these artificial nest sites the same year of placement was viewed as a management success, resulting in expansion of box programs across the country.

Since then, hardwood forests have reestablished and trees have matured (>40yrs old) into sizes capable of producing cavities suitable for wood ducks, hooded mergansers, and common goldeneyes. Recent (since 1985) Farm bill conservation programs like the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) have also added to the reestablishment of forested wetlands.

The dramatic rebound of wood duck populations can be largely attributed to protection provided by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and habitat restoration. However, the recovery of the wood duck was also assisted by the advent of artificial nesting structures, or wood duck boxes (particularly on a local scale).

Today cavity-nesting waterfowl populations are considered stable to increasing. Research now suggests potential natural nest sites are abundant, increasing, and a high proportion go unused. Nest cavity abundance likely exceeds breeding duck numbers by a substantial margin in many regions however, other factors such as availability of brood-rearing wetlands remain important.

Are boxes still needed?

Today, wood duck nest box programs remain popular with some wildlife agencies, non-government conservation organizations, and private citizens hoping to benefit populations. Certainly wood duck boxes, like bird feeders, have a place with those interested in seeing birds or improving local populations.

The deployment of large numbers of nesting boxes can be used to help increase local or regional populations of wood ducks, particularly in areas where natural cavities are limited.

My approach has been to advise people to provide limited densities of nesting boxes, in more secluded locations so as not to encourage dump nesting. Boxes should also only be placed in areas with adequate brood cover nearby and in instances where there is an on—going willingness to clean them out, maintain predator guards, etc.

For wood duck nesting boxes to be successful folks must understand the best instances for their use and the long-term obligation of management of the program to insure their intended success.

If you plan to make the commitment to put up wood duck nest boxes be sure to realize it is a commitment. Wood duck boxes left unattended or improperly placed will become unused by wood ducks or worse, can become death traps to hens and ducklings.

Randy Bouldin, with help from other Boy Scouts in Troop 270, raised money to build and install several nesting boxes around the area for his Eagle Scout project.

A few tips for a successful program:

A successful wood duck nest box program requires annual inspection in January and February. This annual cleaning needs to be a part of your long-term maintenance commitment once you place your nest box.

Predators guards are also a must and make sure you remove overhanging limbs that are close to the box. Black snakes and raccoons can use these to approach the box, making predator guards worthless. Make sure to put the box up somewhere where it is easy to find and maintain. Monitor boxes for the first weeks to make sure starlings or wasps have not taken them over. Do not over visit once wood ducks begin using or the hen may abandon the nest.

A good wetland site for woodies should have three characteristics:

Approximately half the wetland should be open water, with the remainder in green plant cover.
A supply of animal foods, such as insects and other invertebrates. These are critical, especially for ducklings less than 4 weeks old.
Dependable water source – A river, creek or pond whose water that will remain until the ducklings are able to fly – 8 to 10 weeks.

Don't be disappointed if ducks do not use your nest box the first year. It may take a year or two for them to do so. If the box still has not been used after two or three years, try moving it to another location.

Building and maintaining wood duck boxes can bring great satisfaction. However, if you’re unable to make the long-term commitment there are many other valuable ways you can use your energies to support conservation efforts.

Check Out:

Become a DU Volunteer

Rescue the Duck Factory

Scouting for ducks: Boxes can lure in woodies fast

Wood duck Blog

Randy, his father and troop leader Rand and part of Scout Troop 270.

Nesting material is placed in the box.

KANSAS Wildlife Job

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:25:52 GMT

JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Job Title: Utility Worker

Location: Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area near Pleasanton, Kansas

(50 miles south of Overland Park)

Type: Temporary (summer), 40 hrs/wk

Start date: Negotiable

Responsibilities: Participate in all aspects of wildlife and habitat management on 7,500-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area and 4,600-acre La Cygne Lake and Wildlife Area. Tasks include: wetland management, prescribed burning, tree removal with chainsaw, operation of tractors and agricultural implements (disking, mowing, planting food crops, etc.), timber stand improvement, litter removal, control of noxious weeds and other undesired vegetation, sign maintenance, etc.

Qualifications: Completed or enrolled in wildlife, fisheries, or other natural resource-related course of study preferred, but not required. Interest and knowledge of waterfowl and wetlands will be considered in candidate selection. Farm or construction experience helpful. Must be physically fit and able to perform demanding tasks in a variety of outdoor conditions. Must have a valid driver license.

Low-cost housing may be available.

Pay rate: $10.00/hr ⁺/_-

Equal opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, programs described herein is available to all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, sexual preference, mental or physical handicap or disability status, or political affiliation. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 900 Jackson Street, Suite 502, Topeka, Kansas 66612 or to the Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.

To apply: Contact Karl Karrow or Phil Buser at Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area, 22809 E 1700 Rd, Pleasanton, KS 66075. (913) 352-8941. karlk@wp.state.ks.us or phillipb@wp.state.ks.us

April showers bring May flowers . . . and ducks!

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:45:22 GMT

Spring brings the return of many waterfowl to the DU National Headquarters lake. Here ring-necked ducks, mallards and Canada geese loaf in the spring sun.

Spring migration is in full swing for all waterfowl during April. Events happen fast this time of year. There is a limited opportunity to get nesting, brood rearing and molting done before its time to head south again. In fact, ducks spend less than 40 percent of the year on their breeding grounds.

Northern marshes usually begin to thaw in early April. This brings the first wave of pintails and mallards onto the U.S. and Canadian prairies. They either congregate on these thawed wetlands or stand on the ice waiting for it to melt. Many begin nesting within the first week of arrival.

Impressive numbers of snow geese fly over the prairies on the way to their breeding grounds. They move north as rapidly melting snow unearths food and melting ice provides open water.

By the second week of April, northern shovelers and green-winged teal arrive just as pintails and mallards begin nesting. On the Atlantic coast, peak egg laying occurs in black ducks the second week of April.

Mid-April brings the main flight of migrant Canada geese - including members of the Richardson’s and lesser subspecies – to the Dakotas and Great Lake states. Interior subspecies of Canada geese arrive along the southwest coast of St. James Bay in mid-April. And farther north on the Slave River Delta, they arrive during the last week of April. At the same time, sub-arctic nesting geese are migrating north, Giant Canada geese in the Midwest and southern latitudes are on the nest beginning incubation.

By the third week of April redheads, canvasbacks, ring-necked ducks and lesser scaup will arrive and begin their high-speed aerial courtship dances. Gadwalls are arriving on the prairies, too.

While spring blooms and pollen here in the mid-south made it look like winter was long gone, cold fronts like the one today or a heavy snowfall like the storm that recently occurred in the great plains, stops the migrants in their tracks and occasionally sends them retreating south.

Check Out:

How do ducks Migrate?

Spring Habitat; The Neck of the Hourglass

Spring Wetlands and Pintails

A sure sign of spring in the mid-south, cedar waxwings.

A mallard hen stretches on the shore of the NHQ lake last week. She is now incubating her nest.

Waterfowl Banding Technician in FL

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:48:32 GMT

Here is another great opportunity for experience.

Opening for a biological technician (OPS position, full-time, temporary) to assist the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the USFWS in statewide waterfowl banding.

The position is available from June 1 – early September 2009 (start and end dates are somewhat flexible). Salary is $9/hour for 40 hrs per week. Banding locations are statewide, but the candidate will reside close to Tallahassee and our North Florida Waterfowl Field Station. Housing will be provided.

Frequent, week-long travel will be routine. A vehicle will be provided for travel and travel expenses will be reimbursed. This is primarily a field position; working conditions include extreme heat, mud, biting insects, and working in an airboat, frequently at night. On occasion, the successful candidate may be required to work alone, possibly in remote locations.

The primary work activity is banding waterfowl (wood ducks and mottled ducks) via nightlighting and bait-trapping. Additional activities include: maintenance of facilities and vehicles, collecting habitat data and biological samples, computer data entry, and miscellaneous other office duties.

Self-motivated persons with a background in wildlife biology and strong interest in waterfowl/wetlands, who can work independently, are encouraged to apply. Boating experience is a plus. If interested, email resume, 3 references, and a cover letter describing qualifications, work-related experience, education and availability to Andrew Fanning at Andrew.Fanning@MyFWC.com

Direct any questions to the same address or call 850-488-5878.

Deadline for applying is May 1, 2009, 5 pm eastern.

Waterfowl Technician Positions

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:41:03 GMT

TME feeding pens from my Masters research.

Here are a couple great opportunities to get your feet wet (at least your hands!) in the waterfowl biology field!

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Waterfowl Research Technicians (2):

Ducks Unlimited’s Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office seeks two highly-motivated waterfowl research technicians to participate in a study investigating the true metabolizable energy of American black duck foods. This captive waterfowl study will be conducted at Winous Point Marsh Conservancy (WPMC) near Port Clinton, Ohio. Technicians will be stationed at WPMC during August 2009 – January 2010.

Major responsibilities will include conducting feeding trials, caring for captive American black ducks, and processing collected excreta samples in the laboratory. This project requires spending substantial time in an aviary and laboratory setting. Therefore, only enthusiastic, dedicated individuals should apply. A strong interest in waterfowl and the determination to get the job done well is required. Experience caring for and handling captive waterfowl is preferred. Successful applicants will also have experience with data collection and recording, computers (Microsoft Excel and Word), basic laboratory work and will be inquisitive, detail-oriented, and self-motivated. Technicians will be expected to work effectively with and without direct supervision.

These positions will last for 5–6 months. Applicants must be able to start on 1 August. The end date will range from 31 December to 31 January. Two positions will be filled from this announcement. Salary is $1,800/month for technicians. Housing will be provided at no cost. These positions are open until filled.

Electronic submissions are encouraged. Send letter of interest (must include date available to start work), resume, and daytime contact information for three references to:

John Coluccy, Manager of Conservation Planning, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office, 1220 Eisenhower Place, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 (Telephone: 734-623-2000; fax: 734-623-2035, e-mail jcoluccy@ducks.org).

Applications will be accepted through June 1, 2009 or until suitable candidates have been found.

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V

It's how I got my start! Precision feeding mallards for TME feeding trials.

Late Winter Habitat Conditions in Canada

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:18:59 GMT

Throughout the year, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) reports on wetland habitat conditions across Canada and the factors that influence habitat conditions.

These habitat reports provide valuable insight into the annual breeding success of waterfowl, which is largely influenced by the abundance of water on the landscape in the spring and the quality of their wetland habitats throughout the breeding season.

A number of DUC staff from across Canada make valuable contributions to these habitat reports.

Below is the most recent report:

March 25, 2009

Although winter precipitation has been low in some areas of British Columbia, conditions have improved in the Peace region, and waterfowl are arriving there as well as in other regions. The southern Yukon has received near record levels of snow and will be welcoming migrants shortly. Northern portions of the Northwest Territories have received less snow than normal, while Yellowknife and the northern prairies should have average spring conditions. In Alberta, an early spring has improved prospects for spring runoff in many areas and Canada geese, mallards and northern pintails have been observed. Canada geese and mallards are also arriving in Saskatchewan, where conditions vary but prospects for spring runoff have improved in some areas. Conditions range from good to excellent in southwestern Manitoba and Canada geese have started to arrive. Conditions vary in Ontario and waterfowl arrivals are lower than expected given the early spring. Quebec received average to above average snowfall this winter, and average spring conditions are predicted. Conditions should also be good in Atlantic Canada, where initial reports from winter waterfowl surveys show strong numbers again this winter.

WESTERN REGION

British Columbia

Despite cold and wet conditions through early March, mid and high elevation snowpacks on Vancouver Island and the South Coast are well below normal. Colder temperatures have delayed the melting of wetlands and many waterfowl are still utilizing perennial grass fields for feeding and roosting sites. With pending migration, waterfowl are looking for food resources to store reserves for the long flight. Pacific herring are beginning to spawn in the Georgia Strait, and will provide an energy-dense food source for migrating sea ducks.

Much of the central Interior is still recovering from low water levels over the past several years, but some wetlands are expected to fully recharge. Snow

accumulation is above average or average in most of the region but some areas, such as the Chilcotin, are still below normal. Many waterfowl species have returned to the region despite the relatively cool weather.

In the southern Interior, many waterfowl species have returned over the last week, and ice-free water bodies are alive with the sounds of spring again. Snow accumulation is slightly below average in the Thompson basin, and well below average in the Okanagan. In the southeast Interior, snow accumulation is still below average in the Columbia and Kootenay basins.

Snow accumulation was above average this winter in the Peace region, and 6 to 8 “ of recent wet snow has improved the outlook for spring. Earlier estimates of frost seal were slightly negative due to dry conditions last fall, but runoff conditions should now be at least normal due to the combination of snowfall and cold late winter temperatures. Canada geese have recently arrived in the southwest portion of this region, which is an earlier arrival than usual.

Western Boreal Forest

While the northern Yukon has experienced average snow accumulation, the southern Yukon sits well above average for snowfall, with near record levels in some areas and a possibility of flooding in southern communities. Whitehorse received almost 350% of its normal snowfall for February. As March turns into April, migrant birds should begin to appear around open water at lake outlets. The Celebration of Swans will occur in and around Whitehorse during April, as Trumpeter Swans pass through the area.

In general, northern regions of the Northwest Territories have had less than normal snowfall, while portions of the south have received higher than normal snowfall. Norman Wells and Fort Simpson received normal snowfall, and Yellowknife and Hay River received 150% and 70% of their average snowfall, respectively. The Yellowknife area should experience an average spring, although it may arrive late.

Spring conditions should be normal across much of the northern prairies, where snowfall accumulation has been below average to average. Temperatures have resulted in fluctuations between melting and freezing, so the thaw has been slow and is soaking into the ground so far. La Ronge, Saskatchewan received close to 160% of its average snowfall. Further north, Key Lake received almost 180% of its average snowfall. In Manitoba, the Pas has been cool and precipitation has been close to normal. Spring runoff and habitat conditions are forecast to be average with no flooding expected in this area. Flin Flon, Manitoba received almost 170% of its normal snowfall.

PRAIRIE REGION

Alberta

Alberta has experienced an unsettled March. There have been some significant snowfall events and periods of wind, in addition to temperatures ranging from below to above average. As a result of a storm on March 22, there is currently 10 to 30 cm of fresh snow on the ground in the southwest Foothills-Calgary-Red Deer–Rocky Mountain House and Wainwright-St Paul-Cold Lake areas. Temperatures are approximately 5 to 10 C below normal, but were 5 C above normal a week earlier.

Most of the province experienced more snow in March than in the previous four months of winter. This has broken the dry trend, which started in the fall of 2008. Snowfall has been accompanied by periods of wind, which consolidated the snow in road ditches, wetlands and field lines. A few days of warm temperatures in the Prairie and Aspen Parkland led to some melting and evaporation. As a result, most of the winter snowpack is now gone in the Prairie. In the northern Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition Zone and Peace Parkland, melting has been limited.

Overall, winter precipitation totals have been average to above average in the Peace Parkland, Boreal Transition Zone and north Aspen Parkland, and spring runoff is anticipated to be fair to good in these areas. In the east and south Aspen Parkland, snow accumulations are below average and predicted runoff is fair to poor. Recent snowfall in the western Aspen parkland has raised snow accumulations to average and runoff is expected to be fair. Below average snow accumulations continue into the north Prairie and a poor runoff is anticipated. Most of the snow has melted in the south Prairie. Runoff is good in the south east, including Cypress Hills, but fair in most of the remainder of the Prairie. Snow remains in the Calgary area and recent snowfall has boosted the runoff potential there. Winter snowpack in the southern mountains is generally below average. Alberta Environment predicts a below average water supply in the South Saskatchewan River Basin, which supplies southern Alberta irrigation districts.

Through much of Alberta, spring habitat conditions are often a reflection of late winter and early spring precipitation events. So far, the early spring has significantly improved the prospects for spring runoff in many areas. With a rapid spring melt, and average or above precipitation in the remainder of March and April, wetland water levels will rebound from their poor state at freeze-up.

The spring migration has begun. Canada geese have started to move through the Prairie and into the Aspen Parkland, and can be observed standing

on the ice. This arrival is one to two weeks behind recent years. Small flocks of mallards and northern pintails have also been observed in the southern Prairie.

Saskatchewan

Wetland habitat conditions vary across Saskatchewan. The southeast portion of the province has a good snowpack and an above average runoff is predicted, which hasn’t occurred in three to four years. There is also a good potential for runoff in the Missouri Coteau, which has also not seen an average runoff in several years. The northwest part of the province, including the Thickwood Hills, also currently has good snow conditions and the potential for an above average runoff. North central and northeast portions of the province, including the Allan/Dana Hills, Touchwood/Beaver Hills and the Upper Assiniboine area, are expecting a normal to below normal runoff. The southwest and west central areas of the province have a below average snowpack and are expecting a below average runoff.

Across Saskatchewan, temperatures have been an average of 3 C below normal, so spring melting has been slow so far. Temperatures are expected to be above 0 C next week, so run-off should start in the coming weeks.

Canada geese arrived in the province last week and a few mallards have been observed in open areas along the Saskatchewan River. Migration should continue to build as the temperatures warm up.

Manitoba

Although much of southwest Manitoba has received only average precipitation this past winter, prospects for spring conditions are improved due to a combination of factors. These include colder temperatures, a good snowpack, a late arrival of spring, and a layer of ice covered ground, which will create favourable runoff to fill wetlands.

A mid February rain event resulted in a frozen shield of ice over the ground, with a remaining snowpack throughout southwest Manitoba. This will create an excellent conduit for runoff to fill wetland basins. The average snowfall throughout most of the breeding range is now more than adequate for initial settling of birds, due to the fact that it has remained on fields and has been subjected to few melting periods throughout the winter. This has resulted in a good snowpack still remaining in the major pothole regions.

A recent melt from March 20 to 22, coupled with heavy rains, gave us a preview of things to come and resulted in many basins receiving good runoff.

This has since been slowed by colder temperatures and another major snow storm event, which brought at least 6 “ of wet snow to the entire pothole region.

All of these factors will maintain excellent breeding conditions for waterfowl in the Minnedosa/Shoal Lake pothole region. This has also improved conditions in the Killarney and Virden Pothole regions, where wetland and soil moisture were limiting factors going into the winter. The first Canada goose was observed on March 15, and by March 22 small flocks and pairs were becoming more common. This initial migration has since been halted with the recent storm event.

EASTERN REGION

Ontario

Warm temperatures and several rain events preceded the official arrival of spring and eliminated the remaining snowpack across southern Ontario. The thaw in mid February greatly reduced winter snow accumulations and as such, runoff and flooding from this recent mild spell was minor. Permanent wetlands throughout the southern region of the province are fully charged and most are ice-free with the exception of forested areas in south central and southeast Ontario. Unfortunately, the outlook for seasonal wetlands is not as encouraging. Many of these habitats have already dried-up or are receding quickly due to the poor frost seal, warm winds and limited runoff. These pairing habitats tend to be in slightly better condition in the southwest, which experienced wetter weather than the southeast. On the upside, soils are fairly saturated and these temporary habitats could rebound quickly if the rains return.

Spring habitat prospects continue to look promising from Muskoka northward to the Nichol Belt region over to North Bay, where snow still covers the ground, and wetlands and lakes remain iced over. The story is much the same for northeast Ontario, which received decent amounts of snow, except for parts of the Clay Belt. The habitat outlook remains fair for most of the northwest part of the province, which have experienced below normal amounts of precipitation this winter.

Waterfowl are beginning to arrive along the coast and at select inland sites, although numbers are lower than expected given the early spring.

Quebec

Conditions have been comfortably mild in Quebec this year. Average temperatures were higher than normal throughout the province, with the monthly average ranging from 1 to 3.2 C. Total monthly precipitation exceeded the norm for Montreal and Eastern Townships, and was exceptionally abundant for the Abitibi region, which experienced 40 cm more snow than normal this winter. In other regions, snow precipitation was close to or slightly below the norm.

Snowpack was below average throughout most of the province, except in the Abitibi region which had 10 cm more snow than normal. In the St. Lawrence Lowland, there is no more snow on the ground. This, coupled with mild weather, will result in an early spring in this region. Spring conditions should be good throughout the rest of the province.

Atlantic Canada

Although the first day of spring was March 21, Atlantic Canada is still experiencing winter conditions. Temperatures are below the seasonable norm in most areas, and the region has experienced snow and high winds. However, the long range forecast is somewhat favourable, with warmer weather approaching. Winter waterfowl surveys have concluded and initial reports are showing strong numbers again this year.

Spring migration of Canada geese has started, with sightings throughout the entire region. For the most part, these migrants are experiencing cold temperatures and snow covered grounds. An early thaw in March has created open water in many of the rivers and streams, and temperatures will warm up soon and provide sufficient food supplies. Habitat conditions will improve as the seasonable weather arrives over the next few weeks and spring habitat projections are good overall.

Prepared by DUC staff Meagan Hainstock

Field Contacts:

British Columbia – Bruce Harrison

Alberta – Ian McFarlane

Saskatchewan – Michael Hill

Manitoba – Mark Francis

Western Boreal Forest – Brent Friedt

Ontario – Scott Muir

Quebec – Patrick Harbour

Atlantic Canada – Wade Lewis

Check Out:

NOAA Snow map

U.S. Drought Monitor

Canada Drought Monitor

March 2008 Report

Catch Duck Fever!

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:37:09 GMT

Create your own Duck Fever fund-raising campaign today and help raise money for the ducks!

Hello all,

You will notice a new banner on the right side of my blog. It’s our newest fund-raising program that allows you to help DU raise money. It’s called Duck Fever.

If you’re a waterfowl hunter, you’ve probably experienced a case of “duck fever” more than once while sitting in the blind, watching the birds circle overhead. It’s a contagious passion that keeps us coming back year after year.

These guys clearly exhibit signs of “duck fever!”

While the season may be over, there’s a new "duck fever" you should know about—one that will help put more waterfowl in the sky for future generations.

Duck Fever is a quick and easy way to support DU, and it doesn't cost a dime to get started. Pick a fund-raising goal, add a personal message and photo, choose a badge to display your progress and share it online.

Let me tell you it is easy. If I can do it you certainly can!

DU will provide you a snippet of code to add to your Web site, MySpace, Facebook or other personal Web space to begin raising money for the ducks instantly. Clicking your badge will take your online friends to your personalized donation page, complete with your message, photo and progress.

Each donation they make will come to DU on your behalf. Sign up now! for your own Duck Fever Page. And, spread Duck Fever to your friends!

Help me make my Goal!

Running and Gunning Snow Geese with DUTV – Part I

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:11:57 GMT

Temperatures in the teens had the DUTV crew and hosts bundled up! Front Row from Left to Right: Mark Pellizzoni (Winnercomm Productions), Chris Jennings (DU), Bruce Batt (DU Retired), Me, Wade Bourne (DUTV). Back Row from Left to Right: Tyson Keller (Avery), Tony Vandemore (Habitat Flats), Ryan Moore (Winnercomm Productions).

In early March the DUTV crew headed to NW Missouri to film the last episode of the 2009 season and to take part in the Light Goose Conservation Order.

A Conservation Order is a special management action authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that is used to assist traditional management programs in controlling wildlife population. This action is granted under the authority of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

During the last few decades, populations of greater and lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese, collectively called “light geese,” have grown to historic highs. As bird numbers grew, the geese began to overgraze much of their Arctic breeding grounds. This led to changes in soil salinity and soil moisture that fundamentally altered Arctic plant communities, and not for the better. Some of the worst overgrazing occurred along the coast of Hudson Bay. The damage has been so extensive that biologists have concluded it will take hundreds of years for these Arctic areas to recover, if ever.

I viewed the destruction first hand working with snow geese and Canada geese on Akimiski Island in the St. James Bay back in the summer of 1999. The fenced area above excludes geese and shows the destructive foraging damage.

Waterfowl managers recognized that the continued destruction of these habitats would have dire consequences both for geese and other Arctic wildlife.

Biologist new the best way to reduce mid-continent light geese was to reduce the survival of adult geese, and the best way to do that was through increased hunting. In the summer of 1998 I attended the Mississippi Flyway Council Technical Section meetings in Alton, Illinois and I recall the difficult discussions regarding methods to accomplish this daunting task. Other methods of control were discussed but as you can imagine many were unpalatable and it was agreed upon the most acceptable method was to give hunters the first chance at reducing this population before implementing more drastic measures.

In 1999, a special conservation action was put in place to give hunters additional opportunities to harvest light geese. The goal of these extended opporunities was to reduce the annual survival rate of adult geese below 80 percent. It was hoped that if that could be accomplished, goose numbers would come down, and the destruction of Arctic breeding grounds would be slowed.

The Conservation Order authorizes the use of new hunting methods, such as electronic calls and unplugged shotguns, to harvest light geese during normal hunting season frameworks. These regulations are allowed during a light-goose-only hunting season when all other waterfowl and crane hunting seasons, excluding falconry, are closed. Further, the rule authorizes States to implement a Conservation Order to allow the harvest of light geese outside of traditional hunting seasons. In addition, the Conservation Order allows shooting hours to continue until one-half hour after sunset and removes the daily bag limit for light geese.

Since implementation of the Conservation Order in 1999, the harvest of mid-continent light geese has increased and the population growth rate as measured by the midwinter index in some years has been reduced. However, the management goal is to reduce the number of mid-continent light geese by 50 percent.

So where do we stand now? I’ll have more in Light Geese Part II in a couple days.

Check Out:

Trials of the Tundra

Wanna go? Check Out Habitat Flats Guide Service.

More Pictures of the Missouri Hunt

Wade and Drake.

Incoming Geese!

Wiffle!

The hunts took place in harvested corn fields using 800 full bodied decoys and layout blinds.

The geese were close.

And the shots were closer.

More black ducks released as part of ongoing study

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:54:28 GMT

Three more female American black ducks were fitted with electronic tracking devices before flying off into the great unknown via Flanders Bay last Sunday morning as part of an research study designed to monitor their activities in the wild.

The ducks were captured on Saturday as part of Ducks Unlimited’s initiative to track the migratory and breeding habits of black ducks in the Mid- and Northern Atlantic regions.

Little research has been conducted on the migratory patterns of black ducks, even though such information could help increase their dwindling numbers. The black duck population in traditional wintering habitats has decreased by as much as 60 percent in recent years and remains 30 percent below the goal of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

So far this year, DU has released 36 other black ducks back in Ohio, Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey as part of the same initiative. Last year, DU released 29 black ducks in Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey.

RELEASE VIDEO

Nearly 75 people, including 40 children and teenagers, came out to Flanders Sunday morning to watch the release of the three ducks. The youths came out as part of a collaboration between the Suffolk County Parks Department and DU that aims to teach kids the importance of the organization’s mission.

Hopefully Sunday’s duck release will foster a lifelong appreciation of wetlands and waterfowl in those who attended.

The solar-powered satellites were attached by Kurt Anderson, a DU biologist. The transmitters will report a duck’s location up to four times a day. These locations will be downloaded into a mapping program used to determine stopover locations, how long ducks stay at those stopover locations and infer their nesting areas.

Check Out:

Follow the Ducks

VIDEO

PHOTO ESSAY

Black Duck Study

Black Ducks Released Blog

Black Duck Research Initiative brought to life on Web Blog

Study Shows Widespread Declines in Bird Populations, Highlights Role of Partnerships in Conservation

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:00:17 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today released the first ever comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States, showing that nearly a third of the nation’s 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat loss, invasive species, and other threats.

At the same time, the report highlights examples, including many species of waterfowl, where habitat restoration and conservation have reversed previous declines, offering hope that it is not too late to take action to save declining populations.

“Just as they were when Rachel Carson published Silent Spring nearly 50 years ago, birds today are a bellwether of the health of land, water and ecosystems,” Salazar said. “From shorebirds in New England to warblers in Michigan to songbirds in Hawaii, we are seeing disturbing downward population trends that should set off environmental alarm bells. We must work together now to ensure we never hear the deafening silence in our forests, fields and backyards that Rachel Carson warned us about.”

The report, The U.S. State of the Birds, synthesizes data from three long-running bird censuses conducted by thousands of citizen scientists and professional biologists.

In particular, it calls attention to the crisis in Hawaii, where more birds are in danger of extinction than anywhere else in the United States. In addition, the report indicates a 40 percent decline in grassland birds over the past 40 years, a 30 percent decline in birds of aridlands, and high concern for many coastal shorebirds. Furthermore, 39 percent of species dependent on U.S. oceans have declined.

However, the report also reveals convincing evidence that birds can respond quickly and positively to conservation action. The data show dramatic increases in many wetland birds such as pelicans, herons, egrets, osprey, and ducks, a testament to numerous cooperative conservation partnerships that have resulted in protection, enhancement and management of more than 30 million wetland acres.

“These results emphasize that investment in wetlands conservation has paid huge dividends,” said Kenneth Rosenberg, director of Conservation Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Now we need to invest similarly in other neglected habitats where birds are undergoing the steepest declines.”

“Habitats such as those in Hawaii are on the verge of losing entire suites of unique bird species,” said Dr. David Pashley, American Bird Conservancy’s Vice President for Conservation Programs. “In addition to habitat loss, birds also face many other man-made threats such as pesticides, predation by cats, and collisions with windows, towers and buildings. By solving these challenges we can preserve a growing economic engine – the popular pastime of birdwatching that involves millions of Americans – and improve our quality of life.”

“While some bird species are holding their own, many once common species are declining sharply in population. Habitat availability and quality is the key to healthy, thriving bird populations,” said Dave Mehlman of The Nature Conservancy.

Surveys conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey, including the annual Breeding Bird Survey, combined with data gathered through volunteer citizen science program such as the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, show once abundant birds such as the northern bobwhite and marbled murrelet are declining significantly. The possibility of extinction also remains a cold reality for many endangered birds.

“Citizen science plays a critical role in monitoring and understanding the threats to these birds and their habitats, and only citizen involvement can help address them,” said National Audubon Society’s Bird Conservation Director, Greg Butcher. “Conservation action can only make a real difference when concerned people support the kind of vital habitat restoration and protection measures this report explores.”

Birds are beautiful, as well as economically important and a priceless part of America's natural heritage. Birds are also highly sensitive to environmental pollution and climate change, making them critical indicators of the health of the environment on which we all depend.

The United States is home to a tremendous diversity of native birds, with more than 800 species inhabiting terrestrial, coastal, and ocean habitats, including Hawaii. Among these species, 67 are Federally-listed as endangered or threatened. In addition, more than 184 species are designated as species of conservation concern due to a small distribution, high-level of threats, or declining populations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordinated creation of the new report as part of the U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, which includes partners from American Bird Conservancy, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Klamath Bird Observatory, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Geological Survey.

The report is available at http://www.stateofthebirds.org.

Contacts:

Hugh Vickery (DOI), (202) 501-4633

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Alicia King, 703-358-2522/571-214-3117, Alicia_F_King@fws.gov

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Vanessa Kauffman, 703-358-2138, Vanessa_kauffman@fws.gov

American Bird Conservancy: Steve Holmer, 202-234-7181, sholmer@abcbirds.org 3

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Pat Leonard

Federal Duck Stamp Turns 75 Today!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:14:30 GMT

The first Duck Stamp (1934-1935), a brush and ink drawing of Mallards by Jay N. "Ding" Darling, a famous cartoonist and noted conservationist sold for one dollar (635,001 stamps were sold).

One of the more important holidays for us duck folks should be celebrated today!

On this date in 1934, the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act (Duck Stamp Act) became law in the United States.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1934 amendment to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that created the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the Duck Stamp. For every dollar spend on Federal Duck Stamps, ninety-eight cents goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase vital habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission oversees the use of Federal Duck Stamp funds for the purchase and lease of these wetland habitats for national wildlife refuges. To date, more than 5.2 million acres of wetlands have been purchased using more than $700 million in Duck Stamp revenue.

Joshua Spies from Watertown, South Dakota took first place with his acrylic oil painting of a male long-tailed duck floating with a decoy.

The sale of federal duck stamps raises approximately $25 million each year to fund waterfowl habitat acquisition for the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) oversees the use of Federal Duck Stamp funds for the purchase and lease of wetland habitat. The MBCC also reviews, but does not approve, the use of Federal Duck Stamp dollars for the purchase of small natural wetlands and their associated uplands for preservation as Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs).

All waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry a Duck Stamp. When you buy a Duck Stamp, you are doing your part to help ensure a bright future for wildlife, waterfowl and other migratory birds.

You may not know there is also a Junior Duck Stamp Program. Begun in 1989, the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program (JDS) is a dynamic arts curriculum that teaches wetlands and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. The program incorporates scientific and wildlife management principles into a visual arts curriculum with participants completing a JDS design as their visual “term papers”.

Be sure to read DU chief biologist, Dale Humburg’s feature article in the March/April 2009 DU Magazine about the “Great Value in Duck Stamps.”

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Where Duck Stamp dollars have been put to work.

View Previous duck stamp images

My blog from the 2006 Competition.

Junior Duck Stamp Competition

Buy Duck Stamps On-line

Good News for NAWCA and the Refuge System

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:22:18 GMT

I though I would pass on some good news.

Secretary Salazar Announces $26 Million for Wetlands Grants, Nearly $12 Million for Refuge Acquisitions Benefiting Migratory Waterfowl

March 11, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved more than $26 million in grants to protect and restore more than 200,000 acres of wetland areas and wildlife habitat in the United States and Mexico.

The commission awarded the grants under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). They also approved $11.5 million in Federal Duck Stamp funds to add more than 3,500 wetland acres to seven units of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

“By restoring and conserving our wetlands, we are able to help protect this vital habitat for the birds and wildlife that make their homes there,” said Salazar, who chairs the commission. “This funding will help conserve more than 200,000 acres of wetland areas and add an additional 3,500 acres of wetlands to national wildlife refuges.”

The commission includes Senators Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Representative John Dingell of Michigan, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, as well as state representatives serving as ex officio members who vote on projects located within their respective states.

.“I am honored to oversee a program that for nearly eight decades has secured hundreds of thousands of acres of wetland habitat throughout North America for migratory birds,” Salazar said. “The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission is the definition of common-sense conservation, protecting wetlands critical to birds throughout their nesting, wintering, and migratory ranges irrespective of state and international borders that may intersect the flyways,” he added.

More than $24.2 million of the more than $26 million in NAWCA grant funds will support 25 projects in 21 states and Puerto Rico, with partners contributing an additional $60.6 million in matching funds to help protect, restore and enhance almost 185,000 acres. Nearly $2 million for seven projects will help protect 85,427 acres of habitat in Mexico, with partners contributing an additional $3.5 million the projects.

The grants were awarded under NAWCA’s U.S. Standard Grants and Mexico Grants Programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. They are funded by annual Congressional appropriations; fines, penalties and forfeitures levied under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; interest accrued on funds under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and excise taxes paid on small engine fuels through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Fund.

The commission also approved the purchase of wetland habitat that will be added to seven units of the National Wildlife Refuge System to secure breeding, resting and feeding habitat. These acquisitions are funded with proceeds from sales of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, otherwise known as the Federal Duck Stamps. These acquisitions include:

· Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Camden, Gates and Pasquotank Counties, North Carolina – Acquisition of 51 acres to protect, restore and maintain habitat for breeding, migrating and wintering waterfowl.

· San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, Texas – Acquisition of 1,454 acres to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl species, including mallard, gadwall, and northern pintail.

· Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, Pondicherry Divisions, Coos County, New Hampshire – Acquisition of 80 acres to preserve and protect important migratory waterfowl habitat, and provide feeding, nesting and resting habitat.

· Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge, Avoyelles and Rapides Parishes, Louisiana – Acquisition of 265 acres to protect and enhance seasonally and permanently flooded wetlands for migrating and wintering waterfowl.

· Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Wapato Lake Unit, Washington and Yamhill Counties, Oregon – Acquisition of 225 acres to manage as a migration and wintering area for waterfowl, especially tundra swans.

· North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area, Colusa County, California – Acquisition of 388 acres to protect, restore, and maintain wetlands for waterfowl and other migratory birds.

· Grasslands Wildlife Management Area, Merced County, California – A permanent easement of 1,077 acres protecting and enhancing a major wintering area for migratory waterfowl.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1934 amendment to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that created the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the Duck Stamp. For every dollar spend on Federal Duck Stamps, ninety-eight cents goes directly to purchase vital habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commissionoversees the use of Federal Duck Stamp funds for the purchase and lease of these wetland habitats for national wildlife refuges. To date, more than

5 million acres of wetlands have been purchased using more than $650 million in Duck Stamp revenue.

More information about NAWCA grant programs and summaries of the projects approved today is available on the Web at: http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/index.shtm.

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DU NAWCA FACT SHEET

The March North - Spring Migration

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:57:26 GMT

Female ducks, many of which form pair bonds with drakes on their wintering grounds, typically lead their mates northward in the spring.

As waterfowl begin making their spring journey back to the breeding grounds, I thought it might be informative to discuss spring migration habitat. Most of us understand the importance of habitat in general, but we often relate that importance to breeding or wintering habitat. Yet, spring migration habitat also is critically important for providing food, rest and future reproduction.

Spring migration is typically less regimented than fall migration. Most waterfowl make numerous stops during spring migration to feed and rest or participate in courtship and pair formation processes. Flight is among the most energetically costly of activities that birds undertake. A mallard can burn 1g of body fat for every 4 miles it flies at 55 mph. This is a typical speed for a migrating mallard. Consequently, a hen mallard flying from southeastern Missouri to North Dakota (875 miles) would burn 218g of body fat which is approximately 20 percent of her body weight.

In late winter (post Waterfowl season) many duck club habitat and agricultural fields are drained at the very time when habitat needs are great.

The amount and type of food available on migration areas impacts how quickly an individual bird can replenish lost reserves and how fat it is when it arrivals on breeding grounds. Studies show that a mallard must feed and rest for three to seven days to replenish the energy lost during an eight-hour flight.

Spring rains and flooding often provide opportunistic habitat for ducks to exploit such as this overflowing creek.

Some waterfowl, such as arctic nesting geese, not only eat foods to replace fat lost during flight, they store and transport additional fat and protein used to produce and incubate eggs and on breeding grounds.

While the amount of water on the breeding grounds is critical to waterfowl reproduction, research shows that the availability of nutritious foods during migration is directly related to the number of young produced that year for several species. Unfortunately, the mid-latitude states have some of the highest wetland losses. States like Missouri and Illinois have lost more than 90 percent of their historic wetlands.

It’s important to continue to protect and restore habitats on the breeding and wintering grounds, however, an increased understanding and conservation of spring migration habitats is important and one of the last remaining frontiers in waterfowl biology.

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Spring Habitat; The Neck of the Hourglass

Spring Wetlands and Pintails

Flying Machines

Critical waterfowl migration habitat restored in Kansas

Kennedy Endowed Chair in Waterfowl & Wetlands Conservation now online

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:05:23 GMT

The Kennedy Endowed Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation now has an active website.

The Missions of the James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Waterfowl & Wetlands Conservation

Sustain in perpetuity an internationally recognized, university program in teaching, research, and service focused on (1) gaining science-based knowledge for understanding and conserving waterfowl and other wetland wildlife species, populations, and communities, as well as their habitats; (2) educating current and future waterfowl and wetlands scientists and conservationists; and (3) providing outreach on waterfowl and wetlands ecology and conservation for public and private stake-holders.

Mr. James C. Kennedy generously established the James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation in the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries of the College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University in September 2008. This chair is the first in the College, and one of the largest endowments at MSU. Kennedy’s gift sustains in perpetuity the teaching, research, and outreach program in waterfowl and wetlands ecology and conservation at MSU.

An endowed chair is a prestigious faculty position filled by a nationally prominent scholar and teacher.

Dr. Richard M. Kaminski was named the first James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation and Associate Dean of the College of Forest Resources.

The chair and associated program will ensure in perpetuity that the university will continue to provide needed research to help sustain waterfowl habitat and populations.

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Learn More

Snow in the U.S. PPR

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:52:38 GMT

Snow at the Great Plains regional Office, Bismarck, ND - January 13, 2009.

February is what I call a transition month not only for me but for waterfowl. Here in the mid-south rising temperatures bring thoughts of the outdoors; fishing, golf, turkey hunting and unfortunately the return of yard work. For birds a transition occurs from winter activities, which revolve around daily needs and survival to spring activities of courtship, preparation for migration and migration. These thoughts of spring can be delayed with a late cold front or snow storm independent of calendar date.

Because waterfowl are so diverse in species few are on the same calendar. In February, some species like mallards and northern pintails are paired and have already begun northern movements towards their breeding grounds. Other species like northern shovelers, gadwall and green-winged teal are still preparing for the long migration north. They are also forming pairs and if you get out in a wetland you can see large bunches of males chasing females in courtship flights. Species such as blue-winged teal have not even begun to think about moving north. For southern species like wood ducks, pairing and movement to breeding grounds has been completed and some wood ducks will begin nesting in flooded bottomlands in the Mississippi and Atlantic Flyways.

As February 2009 ends there is good news on the horizon. As you saw in Monday’s post-winter habitat conditions look pretty good in most of Canada. Conditions hopefully will improve in the southern portions of the Prairie Pothole Region of Saskatchewan and Alberta.

As you can see in the following graphic, North Dakota has pretty good snow across the state and South Dakota and Montana also have good snow cover in places. This is coupled with good soil moisture and frost seal which should lead to significant run-off come spring.

Click here to access a larger image.

Conditions could even improve further as March and April are the months that the Dakotas typically receive the most snowfall (on average) and during those months the snow typically has a very high moisture content.

The news is not all positive as recent and impending losses of native prairie and Conservation Reserve Program lands will have negative impacts on cover available for nesting. Our nesting research has shown fractured landscapes or landscapes with a small percentage of nesting cover typically have lower nest success. However, talking with my colleagues in the Great Plains there is hope that improved brood survival expected from strong wetland conditions will compensate for any decline in nest success.

Despite the grassland losses it is shaping up for a productive spring for the ducks on the U.S. side of the PPR!

These pictures, taken on January 13,2009 from the windows of the DU Great Plains Regional Office, illustrate some of this winters snow fall.

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NOAA Snow map

U.S. Drought Monitor

Canada Drought Monitor

Winter Habitat Conditions in Canada

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:43:28 GMT

Snow accumulation has been variable in the western region, including the Western Boreal Forest. More precipitation will be required in portions of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan to improve prospects for a good spring runoff, while recent precipitation events will have a positive effect on spring habitat conditions in Manitoba. Northern Ontario has had below normal snow accumulations and southern Ontario has experienced significant amounts of rainfall recently, although much of the runoff was absorbed into the soil due to a relatively shallow frost seal. Overall, habitat conditions in Quebec and Atlantic Canada are good.

WESTERN REGION

British Columbia

Along the coast, snowfall has been low over the past month. Mild and stormy weather has melted low-elevation snowpacks. Mid- and high- elevation snowpacks are well below average, but these don’t typically have a major influence on habitat conditions. Trumpeter swans and snow geese have been congregating in vegetable residue fields and relay/cover crops, while diving ducks have begun pairing up in anticipation for spring mating. Waterfowl on the Fraser Delta, especially wigeons and mallards, have been taking advantage of any new shoot growth in cover crop fields.

Conditions are variable in Interior British Columbia. Most of the central Interior has experienced average to above average snow accumulation although some areas, such as the Chilcotin, are still below normal. In the southern Interior, snow accumulation is slightly below average in the Thompson basin and well below average in the Lower Fraser and Okanagan drainages. In the southeast Interior, snow accumulation is still below average in the Columbia and Kootenay basins.

Snow accumulation has been slightly above average in the Peace region this winter, although windy weather has removed some snow via sublimation over the past month. Peace wetlands were in poor condition last fall due to drought, and an above average runoff will be required to restore them to normal.

Western Boreal Forest

In the Northwest Territories (NWT), Yellowknife had received almost all of its typical annual snowfall by November and 145% of its normal snowfall in January. Norman Wells experienced an average snowfall for January, while Hay River had 210% of its normal snowfall. Conditions in the Yukon are similar to the NWT. Winter snow accumulation is above normal in southern regions, and Whitehorse has experienced just above 200% of its average snowfall for January. Overall, it has been colder than normal but there have been days of warm temperatures and melting snow. Some speculate that there may be flooding in the southeast, along the Liard River.

While some of southern Alberta is experiencing below average snowfall and above normal temperatures, areas north of Edmonton have received above normal snowfall for January. Cold Lake has had 146% of its normal snowfall, while High Level has had 189% of its normal snowfall.

Periods of above normal temperatures have occurred in some areas of Saskatchewan, which has resulted in some rain events and melting snow. Many Boreal and Boreal Transition communities are experiencing average snowfall for January. Further north, Buffalo Narrows has received 165% of its average snowfall for January. To the south, Melfort, has seen below normal snowfall accumulation for January.

In Manitoba, snowfall has been average to above average. As of February 10, the Pas had experienced >50% of their monthly precipitation average and temperatures have been near normal. In January, average ice thickness was 52 cm on 15 wetlands in the Cumberland Marshes. Early expectations in The Pas are for a lower water level in the spring. Further north, Flin Flon reports snowfall accumulation at 214% of normal for January.

PRAIRIE REGION

Alberta

After a cold and snowy December, the first part of 2009 was relatively warm and dry in Alberta. Temperatures have been 1 to 2 degrees above normal and the dry trend from the fall continued in most areas, with precipitation less than 50% of the normal amount since November.

Currently, there is 30 to 50 cm of snow on the ground in the Peace Parkland and 20 to 30 cm of snow in the north Aspen Parkland and Boreal Transition Zone (BTZ). In these areas, most of the ground is covered by a layer of snow with some bare hilltops and greater accumulations in drifts. There is less than 15 cm of snow in the south central Aspen Parkland, where most hilltops are bare and stubble is showing through the snow in crop fields. In the northern Prairie, there is less than 5 cm of snow on the ground, fields are bare and snow is restricted to drifts in roadside ditches and other sheltered areas. Generally, there is less than 10 cm of snow in the southern Prairie, but fields remain covered in some locales. The southern mountain snowpack, which supplies the southern irrigation districts, is currently below average. Between November and mid February, precipitation totals were near average in central Prairie, BTZ and Peace Parkland and below average in most of the Aspen Parkland.

The usual over wintering waterfowl are present on open water areas associated with power plants, rivers and reservoirs. Through much of Alberta, spring habitat conditions are often a reflection of late winter and early spring precipitation events. Significant precipitation is required over the next few months to improve prospects for an average spring runoff.

Saskatchewan

Temperatures across Saskatchewan have varied considerably over the past month, ranging from –30 to +5 C. This has helped to create a frost seal in areas that had little moisture in the fall. In general, the snowpack across the province ranges from 15 to 30+ cm. Most areas of the province could do with more snow to increase the likelihood of a good spring runoff.

The southeastern and south central parts of the province, including the Missouri Coteau, have experienced above average snow conditions (30+ cm), which is the most snow this area has seen for several years. The southwest and west central parts of the province have < 15 cm of snow and summer fallow fields are bare.

The northwestern, north central and northeastern parts of the province have 15 to 30 cm of snow, but those areas have received little snow over the past month and snow conditions are deteriorating. The deteriorating snowpack has allowed some producers to get out on the land and clear bush.

Manitoba

In Manitoba, the colder than normal temperatures of December and early January gave way to average or above average temperatures in February. Precipitation had been limited, until a storm event during the second week of February. All of southern Manitoba was affected by this storm, which dropped a significant amount of rain, freezing rain and snow over three days. Some areas reported over an inch of rain, and eastern portions of the Killarney and Minnedosa / Shoal Lake Pothole regions received up to an inch of accumulated precipitation.

Generally, the primary breeding ranges of southwestern Manitoba have received average to slightly above average precipitation this winter. Winter snow accumulations improve as you move east from the Saskatchewan border, which is good news for the Minnedosa / Shoal Lake Pothole region that had favorable wetland conditions this past fall. Although the Killarney Pothole landscape has also benefited from these winter accumulations, more precipitation is required to produce optimal spring conditions for waterfowl in this area. Soil moisture conditions are low in the Killarney landscape and increase in a northerly direction from the US border, resulting in poorer runoff conditions in areas south of Brandon.

Overall, recent snow accumulations throughout the region will have a positive effect on spring habitat conditions, which will likely improve along a northeast gradient from southwest corner of the province.

EASTERN REGION

Ontario

A recent surge in temperature, coupled with intensive rains, has led to a wide-scale early thaw throughout southern Ontario. Prior to this, snow accumulations had been above average across most the province due to persistent cold temperatures. Now, however, much of the southern region has little to no snow. Despite significant amounts of rainfall, most runoff was absorbed directly into the soil due to a relatively shallow frost seal, which means water levels in most feeder creeks, streams and ditches were contained within their banks. However, ice jams did occur on some major waterways in southwestern Ontario, resulting in localized flooding. Wetlands across the southern region are at full supply. Although the snowpack in the south central and southeastern parts of the province is better than in the southwest, spring runoff is likely to be much reduced in all areas without additional snow accumulations.

Northern Ontario has experienced very cold winter weather and below normal snow accumulations. The region has not received the same recent rainy weather as southern areas have, so much of their snowpack still remains in advance of the spring thaw.

Quebec

January was abnormally cold in Quebec. In fact, it was the fifth coldest January in the past 60 years in the province, with average temperatures ranging from 1.9 to 3.5 C below normal. A cold wave was recorded from January 14 to 18 and was particularly intense in the east, where it reached a historical record. Total precipitation was generally close to or slightly below average throughout the province. The layer of snow on the ground is also slightly below average, except in western Quebec (Ottawa River Valley and Montreal). Overall, habitat conditions are good throughout the province, but more snow is needed on the ground to maintain these conditions.

Atlantic Canada

Snow accumulations have been on par with previous years in Atlantic Canada. The only exception is found in northern New Brunswick, where there is more snow now then this time last year. Most of the region is experiencing normal seasonal temperatures and snowfall amounts.

Winter waterfowl surveys are underway throughout the region and early reports are showing good numbers of birds. The long range forecast predicts temperatures at or above normal, which will benefit waterfowl by preventing areas from completely icing over, thus providing sufficient levels of food. Overall, habitat conditions in Atlantic Canada are good.

DUC Field Contacts:

British Columbia – Bruce Harrison

Alberta – Ian McFarlane

Saskatchewan – Michael Hill

Manitoba – Mark Francis

Western Boreal Forest – Brent Friedt

Ontario – Scott Muir

Quebec – Patrick Harbour

Atlantic Canada – Wade Lewis

Ph.D. GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:24:16 GMT

Ph.D. Research Assistantship available for study of duck nesting ecology

A graduate research assistantship is available beginning August 2009 within the Fish & Wildlife Management Program, Ecology Department, Montana State University (MSU) to work on nesting ecology of ducks in North and South Dakota.

The research will investigate the role of winter wheat to nesting success at multiple spatial scales. Preliminary data suggest that nests in winter wheat fields may have high survival rates, and funding is now in place to conduct an intensive investigation of factors influencing nest survival in landscapes where a winter cereals program is in place. The student’s research advisor will be Jay Rotella. The work will be done in close conjunction with biologists and GIS specialists at the Great Plains Regional Office of Ducks Unlimited.

The project is funded for 4 years, and the assistantship pays $18,000 per year and includes an out-of-state tuition waiver. M.S. in wildlife biology, conservation biology, ecology, natural resource management, or related field is required. The successful applicant must have a GRE of over 1100 (verbal and quantitative).

If you are interested, please contact DR. JAY ROTELLA, Ecology Department, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.

For more details please visit: http://www.montana.edu/rotella/opportunities.htm.

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT NATIVE PRAIRIE

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:00:39 GMT

Sodsaver represents a missed opportunity to save taxdollars and protect native prairie.

This past weekend symbolized a missed opportunity for waterfowl, wildlife, and taxpayers when the deadline to opt-in to Sodsaver passed. Governors of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and Iowa declined to participate in the provision of the 2008 Farm Bill, which would remove incentives to cultivate native prairie.

Ducks Unlimited biologists have estimated that more than 3.3 million acres of native prairie could be lost during the next five years without Sodsaver – the equivalent of 15 percent of the remaining 22 million acres. These habitats represent some of the most productive waterfowl breeding areas in North America. Native prairie conversions will ultimately reduce fall waterfowl migrations across North America.

The economic ripple effect of losing native prairie is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The non-partisan Government Accountability Office estimates that losing native prairie will cost taxpayers more than $119 million dollars. In addition, with the decrease in ducks from the migration, part of the $1.3 billion dollars that migratory bird hunters contribute to rural economies across the nation will be lost.

Most of the remaining large tracts of native prairie in the US are found in the five states involved in the Sodsaver provision, in a region full of glacially-formed shallow ponds called “prairie potholes.” The lands around these ponds are generally arid and rocky, and are very well suited to grazing livestock versus row crops like corn or wheat. These areas are prone to disasters like droughts, and allowing crop subsidies on broken prairie creates a burden on taxpayers.

While the land is relatively poor for intensive agricultural production, it is ideally suited for nesting and breeding waterfowl. Millions of ducks are reared in the Prairie Pothole Region, and migrate to places like the Chesapeake Bay, Louisiana Coast, and California’s Central Valley.

Native prairie represents some of the most productive waterfowl breeding areas in North America.

Ducks Unlimited and many other groups strongly supported a Sodsaver program that was national in scope during the debate of the 2008 Farm Bill. While grassland conversion is a nationwide problem and nationwide proposals were considered, the final provision was limited to the Prairie Pothole portion of the five states.

While the door has closed on this opportunity to protect the prairies, DU is working with members of Congress and the Administration to come up with solutions that will ensure that what’s left of the prairies are not lost.

These decisions remind us how all too important the current Rescue the Duck Factory Program, currently being undertaken by DU, is to the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting.

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Rescue the Duck Factory

Sodsaver Video

Join our Public Policy Team

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:14:41 GMT

Given the important influence public policy decisions can have on waterfowl habitat and populations, DU has created a sign-up on our web-site where those who have interest in being made aware of public policy issues that affect waterfowl can be kept abreast of important opportunities to be engaged in the process for the good of the ducks. All that is required is to go to the web-link below and select the link to sign up as a Governmental Affairs Team Member. Once signed up you will be notified of key issues and how you can engage to help influence the outcome. We all know we need as many voices heard on behalf of the ducks as we can get!

Join Here!

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DU Public Policy

GLARO Public Policy

As the new presidential administration prepares to take office, Ducks Unlimited has prepared issue briefings on nine federal policy matters important to waterfowl and waterfowlers. After input from DU’s senior staff and DU President Bruce Lewis, the documents were sent to the President-elect and members of his transition team staff. We invite DU members and supporters to review the transition documents.

DU recommendations to President Obama Administration

Black Ducks Released on Tuesday

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:19:31 GMT

A male black duck, a rare visitor at DU's National Headquarters pond.

Early Tuesday (yesterday) the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control along with Ducks Unlimited and the University of Delaware released five adult female American black ducks from the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Milton, Delaware with newly-fitted satellite transmitters in the hope that they can track those birds' migratory and breeding habits to gain insight into the apparent decline of the species.

The transmitters are in small backpacks that are strapped onto the ducks. Researchers say they will help gather more reliable data. The transmitter will collect and store information on the ducks’ location, reporting four to six times daily to researchers.

The release marks the beginning of the state's three-year regional research project aimed to fight the decline of wildfowl along the Atlantic Flyway.

The cause of these game birds’ decline in the western and southern portion of their range has been the topic of considerable debate. Five possible factors top the list for wildlife professionals and researchers: harvest, competition and/or hybridization with mallards, loss or damage of non-breeding habitat potentially affecting non-breeding survival, loss or damage of breeding habitat potentially affecting reproduction, and disease and/or parasites.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the University of Delaware and Ducks Unlimited are working together on the project.

Check Out:

How to spy on a Black Duck

Black Duck Study

Track Black Ducks

Learn more about the American Black Duck

Waterfowl Research Technicians - Summer 2009

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:13:03 GMT

Here is another opportunity for experience.

--- Seeking five highly-motivated research technicians to assist in a graduate research project. The research involves nesting, survival, and home range of mallards in the Prairie Pothole Region of North and South Dakota. The field crew will be stationed near Kulm, ND during April-July 2009.

Major responsibilities will include trapping, radio-marking, and monitoring female mallards. Successful applicants will be expected to work six, long (10-hr to 12-hr) days each week (i.e., 60hr-72hr per week). Fieldwork is physically and mentally demanding and takes place under challenging conditions. Therefore, only enthusiastic, dedicated individuals should apply. A strong interest in waterfowl and wetlands ecology, desire to spend long days in the field, and determination to get the job done well is required. Experience identifying waterfowl; trapping, marking, and handling waterfowl; and monitoring radio-marked waterfowl is preferred. Preferred applicants will also have experience with field data collection and GPS systems and will be inquisitive, detail-oriented, and self-motivated. Technicians will be expected to work effectively with and without direct supervision.

Positions will last for approximately 3 months and begin approximately 1 April. End dates will range from 15 July to 31 July. A minimum of five positions will be filled. Salary is $1800/month. Housing is provided.

Application materials can be submitted immediately, but are due by 15 February 2009. To apply, e-mail or fax the following materials to Tanner Gue at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks: 1) letter of interest (must include date available to start work), 2) resume, 3) daytime contact information for three references.

Additional questions regarding these positions can be directed to Tanner Gue.

C. Tanner Gue
Department of Biology
Starcher Hall
10 Cornell Street, Campus Drive
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202-9019

Fax: 701-777-2623

Email: charles.gue@und.nodak.edu

To Students Interested in Obtaining Duck Banding Experience

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:12:02 GMT

Photo courtesy of Jeff Bergman 2007

To Students Interested in Obtaining Duck Banding Experience,

Dr. Alan Afton is leading a large cooperative effort to band Lesser Scaup at Pool 19 of the Mississippi River, near Keokuk, IA, in March 2009, which provides opportunities for undergrad and grad students, to obtain experience in trapping and banding of diving ducks.

Participating students will: (1) obtain hands on experience and training in duck capture, handling and banding techniques, (2) view surgery techniques for implantation of sat-radios, and (3) interact with a diverse group of wildlife professionals from various federal, state and provincial wildlife agencies and NGOs.

Most universities have spring break during March, potentially allowing time for students to participate.

Last spring 20 students from 12 universities in the U.S. and Canada helped band 4426 Lesser Scaup and implant 26 females with sat-radios at Pool 19. The student's also handled and released large numbers of canvasbacks which were caught incidentally [i.e, by catch :)) ].

Dr Afton has secured free lodging for student banders at the Kibbe Biological Field Station, which is conveniently located near the trap sites. Evening group meals and local field-work travel are provided, but participating students are responsible for other meals and their own personal travel to the Pool.

Students interested in participating can contact me directly for futher details and to sign up at this email address: AAfton@lsu.edu

Check Out:

Pool 19 Scaup Study

Happy Birthday DU!

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:06:13 GMT

January 29th marks 72 years of conservation

It’s been 72 years since Ducks Unlimited got its start on January 29, 1937. On that date DU’s founders incorporated the fledgling organization, launching decades of habitat conservation work. DU has much to celebrate considering its phenomenal success and humble beginnings.

DU originated amidst the devastation of the Dust Bowl, when acres of wetlands simply dried up and disappeared during the drought of the 1930s. A small group of hunters, realizing the disastrous effect that losing such precious ecosystems would have, banded together to raise money for wetlands conservation in North America. Years later, this group became Ducks Unlimited, the most successful wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization in the world.

Today, Ducks Unlimited boasts almost 775,000 members in North America, raises more than $150 million annually for wetlands conservation, and has conserved more than 12 million acres of wetlands and waterfowl habitats.

Although DU’s first 72 years have produced amazing results, there is still much work to be done. The United States alone loses 80,000 acres of wetlands every year, leaving waterfowl and other animals without a home, as well as depriving the human population of natural resources and recreation. As DU celebrates its 72nd birthday, we’re also looking ahead to continue conserving habitat and filling the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

Three years ago DU launched the Wetlands For Tomorrow campaign. This comprehensive campaign marks the largest conservation campaign in history, and seeks to raise $1.7 billion within seven years. The campaign focuses on strategic initiatives to save today’s most vulnerable and valuable waterfowl habitats.

This past fall we started a campaign to conserve the nations Duck Factory, the native prairie grasslands of North and South Dakota.

You can help rescue the duck factory! Thanks to your efforts we surpassed a 2008 short-term goal of 10,000 acres. But it’s just a start, our overall objective is to permanently protect more than 300,000 acres in this region.

Give a birthday present to the ducks and donate now!

Check Out:

DU Timeline

Rescuing the Duck Factory

Support Wetlands For Tomorrow

Become a white goose observer

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:36:58 GMT

Holding a neck-banded blue goose during banding operations on Akimiski Island in 1999.

If you cannot get out to hunt snow geese during the upcoming Conservation Order there is another way you can help biologists manage white geese. Become a white goose observer.

Through the web page link below, observers can become part of an international project aimed at the conservation of fragile Arctic ecosystems. By entering information from the neck collars of Lesser Snow Geese and Ross's Geese, individuals will be assisting in the collection of important scientific data. Through the database, observers will be able to find out where and when a particular goose was collared.

BECOME A WHITE GOOSE OBSERVER HERE

Background:

Arctic-breeding populations of Lesser Snow Geese are at record high levels. The over-abundant geese are destroying breeding habitat in the arctic ecosystem and causing crop damage in staging and wintering areas. Ross's Geese are also believed to be in over-abundance in some areas. In 1997, a cooperative international project was launched to find out more about the migration patterns of Arctic white geese. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service is cooperating with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Central, Pacific and Mississippi Flyway Councils to place leg bands and neck collars on Arctic white geese in all the major nesting colonies in the Canadian Arctic. The project was launched in Baffin Island, Nunavut in 1997 and has been expanded to include:

La Perouse Bay, Manitoba and West Hudson Bay, Nunavut (1998);
Queen Maud Gulf, Nunavut and Western Arctic, Northwest Territories (1999);
Cape Henrietta Maria, Ontario and Akimiski Island, Nunavut (2000); and
Southampton Island, Nunavut (2001).

Banding and collaring is expected to continue over the next several years.

Insert picture: Me with blue goose.

In other specific studies, collars are being placed on Lesser Snow Geese on Wrangel Island, Russia and in southwestern Louisiana.

The geese are captured during their flightless period in late July and early August using "helicopter drive" techniques. Information on their age and sex is recorded. Adult and juvenile geese are leg banded and adult geese are collared. Each neck collar contains a unique, easily readable, three-digit, alpha-numeric code. Collars may be yellow, blue, red, black or green, depending upon the species of goose and the location of the nesting colony. (Note that collars used for gathering information about Canada Geese and White-fronted Geese should not be reported for the purposes of this project).

The following information is what you will need.

Check Out:

Characteristics of Snow Geese Versus Ross' Geese

How to Read a White Goose Collar

Summer Internship Announcement

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:18:03 GMT

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

McFaddin/Texas Point National Wildlife Refuges

P.O Box 358

Sabine Pass, Texas 77655

Phone (409) 971 2909

Fax (409) 971-2104

We wish to hire 2-3 motivated individuals to work at the Texas Chenier Plains Refuges Complex (Anahuac, McFaddin, and Texas Point Refuges), in southeastern Texas. Positions are available starting in May and ending in late August (dates are flexible). Flexibility, good physical condition, a tolerance of long days/nights, and the ability to endure difficult field conditions (heat, humidity, and insects) are required. Must possess or be able to acquire a driver’s license. Preference will be given to junior and senior level students.

Duties will include: banding mottled ducks (night-lighting/bait traps), mottled duck radio telemetry, using GPS/GIS applications to enter data, building sand fence, planting areas to reduce erosion (both beach and interior lakes), vegetation monitoring, marsh bird monitoring, herbicide applications, water management (structure operation), maintenance, and other duties as assigned. Interns arriving with a current red card may also be asked to assist with prescribed burns and wildfire suppression.

Shared housing and a per diem of $29.25/day for food and other out-of-pocket expenses is provided. Initial travel to and from the work site will be reimbursed at $ 0.50/

mile. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 5 days a week, sometimes more depending on weather and other conditions. Interested applicants should send via email (preferred) or U.S. mail a resume (including current GPA), cover letter indicating interests, and contact information for at least 2 references, including email addresses. Positions are filled as suitable applicants are found.

Please direct questions and/or required information to Jena Moon (contact information attached). For additional information on our refuges please visit our websites (http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/txrefuges.html)

jena_moon@fws.gov

409-736-2371 office

P.O. Box 358, Sabine Pass, Texas 77655

Yamaha Supports DU

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:26:34 GMT

The DU booth was busy throughout the show with supporters.

I am at the 2009 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) in Orlando, Florida. This is the show’s 31^th year and nearly two thousand exhibitors and 42,000 are expected to attend.

Ducks Unlimited annually attends this show to build relationships and show its support and commitment to hunting, the hunting industry and our industry partners. It’s these partners that help DU with its wetlands and waterfowl conservation through their sponsorship. The SHOT show also gives DU a forum to discuss issues that are impacting waterfowl, conservation and hunting with industry leaders (such as the Clean Water Act, Farm Bill and native prairie loss).

Leading companies, corporations and brands recognize DU as the leader in wetlands conservation and one of the largest and best membership conservation organizations in the world. They understand the importance of the DU mission and the critical need to support it with commitments, resources and quality products. These corporate sponsors, product licensees and promotional providers care about DU and its supporters. They make a difference in DU's mission each day as DU conserves wildlife habitat acre by acre.

At this years SHOT show DU recognized an important corporate partner. This year Yamaha Outdoors reached a significant milestone in supporting hunting and wetland conservation through its long association with Ducks Unlimited. As an official licensee of DU since 2004, Yamaha has contributed more than $1 million in support of DU’s wetland conservation efforts.

Pictured: DU Board Member, Doug Schoenrock, Yamaha's Steve Nesel and DU's Exec. VP Don Young.

“We’re proud of our long-standing relationships with important organizations like DU. The million dollar mark with DU is symbolic of Yamaha’s commitment to outdoorsmen, habitat preservation and keeping lands safe and open to hunting and recreation,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group marketing manager.

Our partnership with Yamaha is truly a model program, and one of the most integrated partnerships that DU has,” said DU’s Manager of Corporate Licensing, Jim Alexander.

Scott Leyseth cooks wild game to the delight of visitors.

Among activities at the DU booth visitors were treated to three days of cooking by “DU-TV” wild game chef Scott Leyseth and a chance to talk waterfowl hunting with “DU-TV” hosts Wade Bourne, Jared Brown and myself.

DU supports our hunting heritage and works with our hunting industry partners to ensure the future of hunting throughout North America. The 2009 SHOT Show was certainly a great event for conservation.

Check Out:

Ducks Unlimited Official Partners

Official Licensed Ducks Unlimited Products

Providing nesting habitat through agriculture: Winter Wheat

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:39:15 GMT

Project aims to benefit wildlife habitat and take action on sustainable agriculture.

Some areas of the Prairie Pothole Region contain soils and topography very conducive to row crop agriculture. As a result, in the early 1990s Ducks Unlimited began research on and promotion of waterfowl friendly cropping systems. The most promising crop to emerge from this preliminary work was winter wheat. Winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested in the summer and as such it is relatively undisturbed during the spring nesting season. In Canada, ducks have been shown to achieve 20% nest success on average, which is high enough to grow population levels. Armed with this knowledge, DU began deploying agronomists in Canada and the U.S. to promote winter wheat through technical guidance and incentives.

Our efforts have contributed to a three fold increase in conversion of cropland to winter wheat production across the prairies during a period when other wheat varieties have been declining. It is important to note that this increase in winter wheat did not result from plowing of native prairie. A number of industry and agency partners have supported our efforts over the years and contributed to the success of the program.

A pintail nest in winter wheat. Winter wheat is beneficial to spring nesting waterfowl, particularly Northern pintails, a species that has declined since the late 1970s.

More recently, Bayer CropScience, which has established a global commitment to pursuing sustainable agricultural production, has become a primary partner in our winter cereal efforts. Bayer’s desire is to support cropping systems that maintain wildlife populations as well as improve soil, water, and air quality. These shared values have set the stage for an enhanced partnership with Bayer to promote winter cereals across the U.S. and Canadian prairies.

Today, DU announced a $20 million investment by Bayer over five years in our joint U.S. and Canada winter cereals efforts (Press Release). This is a landmark corporate investment in DU’s conservation work and it will provide increased breeding habitat in the prairies at a time when some traditional covers, like CRP, are declining.

Check Out:

Press Release: DU & Bayer CropScience team up to increase Winter Wheat in North America

DU Magazine Article: Ducks and Winter Wheat

Winter Wheat Program

Information Brochure

Winter Wheat Blog

Winter Wheat Canada Blog

Alaska Black Brant Field Technician, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:32:11 GMT

ALASKA SUMMER FIELD TECHNICIANS (5) needed for a long-term study of Black Brant in Alaska's Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most diverse and abundant waterfowl nesting areas in North America. Black Brant have been studied extensively on the Y-K Delta Bering Sea coast since the mid 1980s in an effort to determine population dynamics and factors limiting population growth. Duties will include nest monitoring, web-tagging and banding, data entry as well as the daily responsibilities associated with living at a super remote field camp. Assistants will be expected to work very long days in highly variable conditions (wet and cold weather to warm and buggy conditions) and live in an extremely remote field camp for the duration of the field season.

The ability to work alone as well as a part of a team and the desire to live in remote and meager field conditions is essential. Successful applicants have typically been enrolled in a wildlife or biology related program, have field experience collecting observational or behavioral data, identifying birds, operating and maintaining outboard-motor boats, and are physically fit. Most importantly we are looking for applicants with a strong desire to work hard and the ability to thrive in a very remote setting.

U.S. citizens only.

We anticipate hiring two crews. Start dates depend on spring chronology and weather. The first crew will work from mid April until August 1st; the second crew will work from late May until August 1st.

Technicians will receive approximately $1500/month stipend, transportation from Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska to the field site near Chevak, Alaska, and some field gear. Food and lodging will be covered for the duration of the field season.

To apply email a cover letter, current CV, dates of availability (April or May start date preferences) and the names and contact information for three references in a SINGLE Word document or PDF to: AMANDA WALKER, awalker@cabnr.unr.edu, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Nevada-Reno, 1000 Valley Rd. Reno, NV 89512.

Salary: $1500/month

Last Date to apply: February 28, 2009

Contact: Amanda Walker

E-mail: awalker@cabnr.unr.edu(Preferred)

Phone: 775-784-6558

Techs need for Missouri River Research - USGS NPWRC, Jamestown, ND

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:10:34 GMT

Biological Aides, Technicians & Crew Leaders

Positions: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center is seeking to recruit up to 38 Biological Aides, and Technicians to assist with piping plover and least tern studies on the Missouri River in North and South Dakota and on the Platte River in Nebraska.

Pay: $14.00 – $17.00 per hour D.O.E. + housing

Project Description: The project is a comprehensive evaluation of emergent sandbar habitat on the Missouri River, focusing on productivity and foraging ecology of least terns, evaluating nest productivity monitoring procedures for least terns and piping plovers, and measuring habitat variables on sandbars used by nesting terns & plovers.

Work Description: Technicians will be assigned to a crew with principal responsibility in 1 of 3 focal areas:
· Conducting nest searches, monitoring nest fate, and counting adult & fledgling terns & plovers.
· Evaluating use of foraging habitat by least terns through radiotelemetry, behavioral observations, band resighting, and conducting fish sampling.
· Collecting vegetation, substrate, fish, and other habitat variables on emergent sandbars used by nesting terns & plovers and in tern foraging areas.
Crews assigned to different duties will be co-located, providing opportunity for experience in multiple task areas.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Expertise: Applicants must have at least 2 years college education, US Citizenship, and a valid driver’s license. BA/BS desirable for technician positions, mandatory for crew leaders. Applicants will be rated based on skills, abilities, and experience collecting field biological data, with emphasis in the following areas:

· Biology of least terns and/or piping plovers, including experience with related or biologically similar species.
· Conducting nest searches and collecting nest fate data on terns, plovers, or other birds (especially shorebirds).
· Capture, handling, banding, and behavioral observation of birds.
· Radiotelemetry, , use of ArcGIS and GPS units.
· Fish sampling and knowledge of fish taxonomy.
· Operation of 4x4 vehicles, personal watercraft, and outboard motorboats up to 90hp.

· Start/End date: Technicians/aides – Early April through early August. Some flexibility in starting dates is possible. Nest monitoring crews will start work in early April or early May.

If interested: Email or call: Colin Dovichin Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 8711 37^th St. SE. Jamestown, ND 58401. cdovichin@usgs.gov (701)253 5573

Wildlife Refuge Dedicates John Taylor Management Project

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:38:58 GMT

While in graduate school I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel on a field trip to Bosque del Apache National and meet John Taylor. While our class only spent 4 days stomping through mud and wetlands with John, he left a lasting impression on me and my critical thinking. He also introduced us to our first jalapeño burgers!

John P. Taylor, Jr., senior wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, died suddenly of a massive stroke on September 27, 2004. On Dec. 13,2008, John was fittingly honored for the many achievements made during his far too short life. Here is an article that details his tribute.

Below is the article that appeared in the SmallTownPapers News Service

By John Larson
for Mountain Mail

John Taylor, the late conservationist, was honored at a ceremony Saturday at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

Some 60 Taylor family members, friends and representatives of Ducks Unlimited joined refuge employees in dedicating the John Taylor Water Management Project, which will deliver water to the 1,798-acre redeveloped area, including 78 irrigated agricultural acres within the restored area.

A nationally recognized biologist at the refuge, Taylor received local, regional and national honors in wetland management, geese culture and the eradication of salt cedar.

The dedication began with welcoming remarks from Refuge Manager Tom Melanson, followed by overviews of the importance of Taylor’s work by Refuge Senior Biologist John Vradenburg, retired Refuge Manager Phil Norton and Ducks Unlimited Regional Biologist Keith McKnight. DU Regional Director John White chaired the indoor event.

After the speeches, attendees drove in caravan to view the water management project located south of the Marsh Tour Loop, which includes an automated Langemann headgate, lift pump and flood risers to deliver water without loss from evaporation. The Taylor Water Management Project is a work in progress that will continue to grow, Vradenburg said.

After the dedication, a Taylor memorial site overlooking the restored tract and a half-mile walking trail leading from the Wildlife Drive to the memorial was opened for public use.

Taylor died Sept. 24, 2004, of a massive stroke at age 49.

In 2003 he was named the National Wildlife refuge Employee of the Year.

Restoration of a vast tract of salt-cedar-choked land on the south end of the refuge to productive wetlands and wildlife habitat was the life dream of Taylor. The restoration was well under way before his untimely death and the

project has advanced dramatically since, following Taylor’s plans.

Today, young cottonwoods, riparian vegetation, saltgrass meadows and wetlands and an area of agricultural crops cover much of the 1,798-acre tract.

According to a press release from National Wildlife Refuge Association, Taylor was the first Land Management Research and Demonstration site biologist in the country. He researched, pioneered and implemented innovative techniques for conserving river water during severe drought while managing the conversion of salt cedar monocultures to native vegetation.

Taylor also fine-tuned the management of sandhill crane and other migratory bird populations and feeding resources to minimize damage to neighboring private croplands. In the process, he became an expert in the application of moist soil management techniques.

During his tenure as Senior Biologist at the Refuge, Taylor obtained grants for wetland preservations and restoration projects. He wrote journal articles, delivered talks to interested groups, gave tours and participated in several film and documentary projects. He worked extensively and effectively with other refuges, with conservation organizations, land management agencies, universities throughout the Southwest and in Mexico.

Taylor was widely known and respected for his depth of expertise and commitment to habitat conservation and restoration.

In 2000, he chaired the International Goose Symposium in Albuquerque, one of a continuing series of forums at which several hundred leading goose biologists and managers share research and management information.

The Socorro chapter of Ducks Unlimited contributed $50,000 in Taylor’s name to assist with the restoration project.

Magdalena Mayor Jim Wolfe, a DU member, remembered Taylor as someone who was “pretty easy to get to know.”

“John was a longtime member of DU and when he passed away we held a tribute dinner and fundraisers,” Wolfe said. “We were able to get together enough money to do the project out there. One of the things he wanted to get done was to put a control gate on one of the ditches.”

The memorial site is on the bank of an abandoned channel of the Rio Grande, to which water has been restored. Newly established cottonwood trees surround the site. In the future, a bronze plaque honoring Taylor will rest atop an adobe base suggesting an old pueblo structure. A raised deck at the site will provide views across the new agricultural area to the Point of Land and the Chupadera Mountains.

Visitors walking the scenic trail leading to the memorial will be able to park off the tour loop at the trailhead.

Check Out:

New Mexico DU

Friends Of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Bosque del Apache NWR

Just in time for Christmas

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:30:05 GMT

A classic work of waterfowl literature available again in a limited reprinting: “To Ride the Wind” by H. Albert Hochbaum

H. Albert Hochbaum was a pioneer of waterfowl research, art and writing. He was instrumental in founding the Delta Waterfowl Research Station and in the training of many of our highly acclaimed waterfowl scientists and managers.

Richard Bonnycastle was Al’s lifelong friend and has been a generous philanthropist for waterfowl research and management for decades.

Richard convinced Al to write To Ride the Wind more than 36 years ago and has now generously donated 10,000 copies to 3 leading waterfowl organizations: Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited and Long Point Waterfowl. The book and plates have been reproduced in a beautiful 120 page coffee table format (ca. 10.5 x 12 in.) and are available for sale directly from each of the aforementioned organizations.

Proceeds from the book will be used to conserve waterfowl habitats, support graduate student research projects and to instill in youth a keen interest in wildlife ecology, conservation and our hunting heritage.

I know you will enjoy these wonderful writings as well as the opportunity to learn what drives waterfowl To Ride the Wind.

Proceeds from the books sold by Ducks Unlimited Canada will be used to help conserve the famous but ailing Delta Marsh and to help instill in youth a sense of our hunting heritage.

To order your copy and to support conservation please contact Ducks Unlimited Canada.