DU and Partners Help Farmers Conserve Montana's Prairies
The Hi-Line, which encompasses Montana's portion of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), has been experiencing native grassland loss at rates not seen since the Dust Bowl. To help reverse this trend, DU conservation specialist Brett Dorak recently began working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff to promote federal conservation programs.
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NAWCA turns 25
Now a quarter century old, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act is more important than ever to waterfowl and hunters. By Scott C. Yaich, Ph.D.
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Migration Alert: Strong Local Duck Production Drives Success in Montana
Reports of successful waterfowl hunts have been trickling in to Bob Sanders, Ducks Unlimited manager of conservation programs for Montana, from all over the state since the season started on September 28, but things have turned sour in recent days, and it has nothing to do with the ducks.
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Ducks Unlimited Milk River Banquet set for Oct. 12 in Malta
MALTA, Mont. September 16, 2013 - Join Ducks Unlimited for a fun evening and help support habitat work in the Montana nesting grounds. The Milk River DU Chapter Banquet offers a night of good food, games and fellowship on Saturday, Oct. 12 in Malta. The event will be held at the Malta City Hall with cocktails beginning at 5:30 p.m. and a prime rib and shrimp dinner at 6:30 p.m.
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Preserving Our Prairies
If you live in or have visited the Prairie Pothole Region recently, you have no doubt witnessed how quickly the landscape is changing. And if you haven't visited the Duck Factory lately, well, there is reason for concern.
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Preserve Our Prairies Initiative
Conserving North America's highest-priority waterfowl nesting habitat—and the glory of bountiful fall flights—in the face of mounting threats.
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Understanding Waterfowl: Seasonal Wetlands and Breeding Ducks
These small, shallow-flooded basins are vital to waterfowl production on the prairies
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Habitat Update: Northern Plains Receives More Snow
A late spring storm in North Dakota dropped one to two feet of snow across the state, creating chaos for citizens of the Northern Plains. For most waterfowl, however, the snow is just a temporary setback.
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South Dakota writer honored at 2013 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards Ceremony
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – April 1, 2013 – Ducks Unlimited announced today the winners of the 2013 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards during the 78th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference held in Arlington, Va., at the Crystal Gateway Hyatt. This year's recipient in the Communications category is freelance writer John Pollmann.
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Conservation Q&A
With Gary Taylor, DU's Director of Governmental Affairs; on a variety of topics, including the RESTORE Act, NAWCA and DU's top legislative priorities.
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CN Supports Boreal Forest Conservation Plan
Wetlands America Trust board member David McLean was well aware of the size and beauty of North America's boreal forest. After all, the forest covers 1.4 billion acres in his native country of Canada. But he didn't realize the full importance of this vast landscape to waterfowl and other bird populations until he heard about DU and The Pew Charitable Trusts' partnership to conserve 1 billion acres of this region by 2022.
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Help DU conserve crucial waterfowl breeding grounds today
With a grant from SportDOG, Ducks Unlimited, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will conserve 5,463 acres of wetland and wetland-associated grassland habitat using purchased perpetual easements along with fee-title (outright) purchase of important landscapes. Vote today!
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A Freelancer's Guide to the PPR
With its mix of grasslands and wetlands, the Prairie Pothole Region of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana and Canada is the destination for millions of nesting waterfowl each spring.
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Understanding Waterfowl: Drought and Deluge
We can't control the weather, but conserving wetlands and grasslands on the prairies will help ensure the long-term health of duck populations
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Conservation: Gains and Losses
While progress has been made in conserving the nation's wetlands, these vital habitats continue to decline at an alarming rate
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DU staff held Farm Bill roundtable with Senate Agricultural Committee
Ducks Unlimited's Great Lakes/Atlantic regional office in Ann Arbor hosted a Farm Bill roundtable this week. Tina May, a senior staffer from the Senate Agricultural Committee, brought stakeholders up to date on some of the ins and outs of the important legislation.
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Lake Ontario Wetland Restoration Completed
Ducks Unlimited recently completed construction work on a wetland-enhancement project on Lakeview Wildlife Management Area (WMA) along eastern Lake Ontario.
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Winter Wheat Acreage Up 75 Percent in North Dakota
Waterfowl will find more winter wheat on the landscape this spring when they return to North Dakota's prairie pothole country.
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Potholes in Peril
New threats to prairie wetlands could mean big trouble for duck populations
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Transportation Bill Land and Water Conservation Funding Provisions Important to Sportsmen
Pierre, SD — May 24, 2012 — Leaders representing sportsmen's interests, including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, a South Dakota farmer/rancher, and the former Secretary of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, joined today to call on Congress to maintain funding for land and water conservation programs as they debate a final transportation authorization bill.
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Media Advisory: Sportsmen's groups urge keeping land and water conservation funding in transportation bill
The teleconference will give reporters a chance to hear about the opportunity to secure additional funding for habitat conservation and outdoor recreation access, and will provide an example of the areas that would benefit from funding.
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2012 Spring Habitat Conditions in Canada
The following is a compilation of environmental conditions relative to breeding waterfowl submitted by DUC field staff. These observations are not based on systematic surveys or intended to describe hunting conditions.
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High-Priority Habitats
Following are DU's five highest-priority landscapes, their importance to waterfowl and our efforts to conserve them for present and future generations.
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Conservation: Ducks in a Crowded World
Sustaining healthy waterfowl numbers will be a great challenge as the earth's human population grows
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DU opposes funding diversion
On Thursday, Feb. 9, Ducks Unlimited signed on to a national letter produced by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Coalition opposing a shift in funds from the LWCF to highways and other national infrastructure.
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Tennessee commissioners see benefits of international conservation efforts during tour
Since 1992, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has been contributing to waterfowl conservation on the Canadian prairies. Ducks Unlimited is committed to conserving North American waterfowl habitat, regardless of the flyway or country, and TWRA's partnership with DU emphasizes how important Canadian waterfowl production is to the Tennessee hunter.
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Dakota Grassland Conservation Area now a national conservation priority
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has released his final 50-State America's Great Outdoors Report, which highlights the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area as one of the country's 100 most promising outdoor projects.
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A Banquet for Ducks
Hunters have long recognized the importance of rice to wintering and migrating waterfowl. Why is rice agriculture so important to dabbling duck populations?
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Department of Interior Announces Four New Conservation Areas
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar visited both Capitol Hill and the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida last week to celebrate the establishment of four new conservation areas and wildlife refuges.
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DU Chairman Joins U.S. Secretary of the Interior and USFWS Director to Commemorate New National Wildlife Refuges
DU Chairman of the Board John Pope joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and USFWS Director Dan Ashe last week to install four new planks on the boardwalk at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
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Early Fall Habitat Conditions in Canada
Due to favorable habitat conditions throughout Canada, fall flight expectations remain high. Overall migration still depends heavily on timely weather patterns.
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Whiting Petroleum fuels conservation work in North Dakota
Whiting Petroleum Corporation recently contributed $100,000 to Ducks Unlimited for specific conservation action on the western edge of North Dakota's Prairie Pothole Region.
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Sportsmen must speak up to make the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area a reality
DU strongly supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to formally establish the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area. However, if this jewel for America's wildlife is to be protected, sportsmen will need to tell Congress of its significance.
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Sportsmen must speak up to make the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area a reality
DU is pleased with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's recent decision to formally establish the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area. However, if this jewel for America's wildlife is to be protected, sportsmen will need to tell Congress of its significance.
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DU Acquires Prime Breeding Ground Habitat in Montana
As part of ongoing efforts to conserve intact prairie pothole habitat, Ducks Unlimited and its foundation, Wetlands America Trust, recently acquired a 2,158-acre complex of grassland and wetland habitat in north-central Montana's "Hi-Line."
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DU, Partners Secure $1 million Grant for Iowa's Portion of Prairie Pothole Region
Ducks Unlimited received a $1 million North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant earlier this year for projects in Iowa. NAWCA is a federal matching grants program that provides funding for wetland and migratory bird habitat conservation work across North America.
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As Budget Talks Continue, the Future Remains Uncertain for Waterfowl
Two upcoming meetings will be key to the impact of the future of NAWCA
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Policy News 3-18
Ducks Unlimited Receives Highest Honor from USDA-NRCS; DU Leaders Visit Capitol Hill, Discuss Waterfowl Initiatives with Nation's Top Policymakers; DU explains importance of Clean Water Act draft guidance during media briefing
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Salazar pushes protecting the Duck Factory during State of the Birds
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says easements on private land are an efficient way to provide conservation in critical habitat, while helping ranchers stay in business.
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