It was a mostly dry summer in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the Carolinas, but the corresponding lower water levels in many areas may have had a positive impact, allowing for excellent growth of vegetation on shallow sandbars and flats. Habitat conditions for waterfowl look surprisingly good, according to regional experts and biologists, but rain is certainly needed to set the stage.
Ed Farley, Ducks Unlimited’s manager of conservation programs for Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia, says that his recent travels showed promising habitat conditions in many places across his territory.
“We had pretty dry conditions, which for the most part helped with moist-soil production,” Farley says. “Additionally, I have seen moist-soil plant growth on sandbars in several rivers due to the very low water levels. This could bode well for river hunters when the water comes up.”
Delaware
State and federal waterfowl managers closely monitor habitat conditions and waterfowl numbers in their areas. Cole Tiemann, waterfowl and migratory gamebird biologist for Delaware’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, notes that drought continues to impact the region.
“We definitely need more precipitation,” Tiemann says. “We had lower water levels in our ponds than last summer, and we were in a drought last year too. In spite of this, we had at least average to above-average production of wood ducks and similar production of resident Canada geese. We caught a lot of goslings during banding this year, and I have heard good reports during our resident goose season.”
Tiemann notes that recent rainfall has started to fill some impoundments and ponds. He is hoping for more rain in the weeks to come, especially prolonged rain events that bring drought relief without causing flooding.
Maryland
Drought is also impacting waterfowl habitats in Maryland. Brian Boutin, acting project leader for the Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes the Blackwater, Eastern Neck, Martin, and Susquehanna refuges, explains that impoundments and other freshwater habitats on the Eastern Shore are mostly dry. However, Boutin notes, “Moist-soil plant production is good to excellent in most impoundments. Rainfall is now needed to make these food resources available to waterfowl.”
Dry conditions and increased salinity in Maryland’s tidal waters persist. Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) growth, though, appears good. “If we get some decent rains, the moist-soil vegetation, such as millet, will provide great habitat for migratory waterfowl,” Boutin says. “The SAVs are doing well so the table is set for the birds’ arrival.”
Virginia
Ben Lewis, the waterfowl biologist for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, offered a brief early assessment of habitat conditions in his state, also noting dry conditions. “It looks like we are headed for some cooler temperatures next week before the early season opens,” Lewis says. “There were good numbers of wood ducks, including juveniles, in our preseason banding efforts, which hopefully indicates a good early season in Virginia.”
North Carolina
Hunter Morris, waterfowl biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, says some areas in the Piedmont and southern coast have experienced drought conditions, but things improve as you move north. Even though some swamps were dry heading into October, Morris isn’t too concerned when it comes to getting water on seasonally flooded impoundments and being able to provide public hunting opportunities.
“Our resident Canada population remains stable and participation in the September season remains high, as evidenced by the band reports rolling in,” Morris says. “Wood ducks also continue to do well, and we had a good showing of juvenile birds marked in this year’s preseason banding efforts. It may be a slow start for folks who rely on the swamps of the Piedmont, but wood ducks should be plentiful if you can find water to hunt. Folks on the coast always have it a little easier in that regard; the sounds and all their tributaries are still there, providing plenty of opportunity to get out and hunt, even during a drought.”
Farley notes that the dry conditions also resulted in increased salinity in coastal waters, calling it “a mixed bag that continues to impact some rewatering of seasonally flooded impoundments at the moment.” Still, he adds that SAV production in the coastal Carolinas appears to be good in areas that he has
visited.
“We’ll see what the fall and winter bring, but I think as long as we get some fall rains to fill the wetlands, our habitat is in average to good condition across the four states I work in,” Farley says. “Bluewings and even pintails are already starting to show up, so it won't be long now before we are in the thick of it here!”
Biologist Brian Van Druten tracks waterfowl numbers on the Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges (NWR). He says that despite the summer drought, SAV production in the three impoundments at Pea Island NWR is excellent. “We have seen some migrants starting to arrive. Small numbers of blue-winged teal, northern shovelers, northern pintails, American wigeon, and gadwalls have been utilizing the impoundments along with our more resident Canada geese and American black ducks,” Van Druten says.
Van Druten’s team is evaluating 17 impoundments on Alligator River NWR. “We have four impoundments that we managed for moist soil. The remaining impoundments contain a mix of corn, sorghum, and soybeans,” he explains. “Soybeans will be completely harvested. Portions of corn and sorghum will be left for wildlife. By mid-October, we will have a good handle on production in our impoundments for both crop yield and moist soil.”
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