Nick Simonson
By Nick Simonson
With a recharge of wetlands from the winter and spring snows, conditions were improved across North Dakota for returning waterfowl. While this spring's survey report from the North Dakota Game & Fish Department (NDG&F) showed a slight increase in breeding duck tallies, behind the numbers, Ducks Unlimited (DU) is finding good indicators for both waterfowl populations and hunters looking ahead to the autumn, according to Ben Romans, DU Communications Coordinator.
"Hunters can expect to see similar numbers to last year. The one shining note on the report was that pintail numbers were up 47 percent compared to last year. That's a good sign because we've had significant declines in recent years and it's also a species that biologists keep their eye on since North Dakota produces so many of the continent's populations of pintails. And also our research scientists are seeing good numbers of pintails in their nesting and research efforts too," Romans explains.
Currently DU staff members are in the field keeping tabs on the developing populations of waterfowl throughout North Dakota and the upper Midwest. Due in part to the late spring, this year's hatch is a bit behind schedule overall.
"Brood surveys are ongoing at the moment which means a lot of 4 a.m. mornings [for DU staff]. The duckling size is still very small, so if you go out looking for birds right now, you're going to see some little puffball size ducklings. Hatches have been delayed this spring and the research teams have seen an increase in nest numbers from last year, but it's still on trend for the average year," Romans reports.
While temporary and permanent wetlands may have received a recharge this spring from the excessive meltwater, the surrounding grasslands needed for chick rearing by waterfowl aren't as widespread or as numerous as they were 15 years ago, and this remains a primary concern for DU in both its observations and where the organization is investing its efforts and funding.
"Grassland continues to decline. That's why we work with our partners and landowners toward the common goal to keep grass on the landscape. We work with producers on a variety of projects ranging from grassland and wetland restoration to soil health, water quality projects, cover crops, to public land projects with land managers. So, we've been able to reduce the significant up-front expenses for retaining and establishing grass on the landscape, but it's still at a premium," Romans details of the organization's current focus.
Summer is the ideal time for DU agents to work with operators to find conservation opportunities, both for the preservation of grassland and wetland areas vital to duck production and survival. Across the region, connections with landowners are made to help identify those places, preserve them, and protect them for future use by the state's waterfowl populations.
"We have biologists all over the state and engineers and agronomists. Right now, is our busy time of year, they're out there doing projects with landowners. We're growing as an organization, two weeks ago we partnered with Bobcat for the Clairmont family park here right off Burnt Boat Road [in Bismarck]. So we've got mud on the boots and we're working to put more birds in the sky." Romans concludes.
For landowners, operators and others looking to connect their marginal acres, wetlands and grassland spaces with DU, state and federal conservation programs, more information can be found at ducks.org or by calling the DU Bismarck office at: (701)355-3500.
Simonson is the lead writer for Dakota Edge Outdoors.
Featured Photo: Waterfowl require good wetlands and sufficient surrounding cover to beget the next generation. Ducks Unlimited is working with landowners and partnering with government agencies, businesses and other organizations to preserve and protect those spaces. Simonson Photo.
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