By Rick Warhurst, manager of conservation programs for North Dakota
We are again working cooperatively with the Central Flyway Council and banding ducks at Lake Ilo NWR and Audubon NWR. In addition, DU is fielding a banding crew that is banding at the Coteau Ranch and the area around the Ranch. Here is summary data for bandings through August 16 from all three locations. Water levels in Lake Ilo are low, lowest I have observed in 12 years of banding there and duck numbers are relatively low. The mud is deep along the wetland edge which is receding daily with hot dry winds we’ve experienced in August in western North Dakota. Lake Audubon contains good water and duck numbers were relatively high when banding began in early August, particularly mallards and pintails. There are many dry wetlands on the surrounding private lands. At the Coteau Ranch, the larger semi-permanent and permanent wetlands have water but seasonal wetlands are dry. The banding began slowly but the adult male blue-winged teal began moving southward around the 8th or 9th of August and banding numbers exemplify that. We will continue banding until approximately September 20.
Audubon WMD
Mallards 99
Gadwall 8
Green-winged teal 2
Blue-winged teal 143
Pintail 50
Redhead 13
Scaup 2
Wood duck 1
Total 318
Lake Ilo NWR
Mallards 12
Green-winged teal 1
Blue-winged teal 18
Pintail 4
Redhead 3
Total 38
Coteau Ranch
Mallards 13
Wigeon 1
Green-winged teal 1
Blue-winged teal 384
Pintail 4
Total 403