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"Fat and Happy" A couple of three years or so ago I attended a conference, hosted by the Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AWF). The focus of the event was on ducks and the duck populations, as they relate to the wintering grounds in Arkansas. I feel like the event was more informative than most would have ever expected, even though I doubt many of the AWF members heard what they were hoping for. Either way, I felt the event was well presented and contained a wealth of knowledge. The wealth of knowledge I referenced came from Leigh Fredrickson and Mickey Heitmeyer from the Gaylord Institute research station in Puxico, MO. These gentlemen had spent as much of their life studying the ducks, as I have spent hunting them and to top that off, they were also avid waterfowl hunters. They referenced a vast amount of information during the presentation, but I don't feel like any was as important to this time of year as their discussion on dietary changes within the ducks seasonal life cycle. Specifically they pointed out how important it was for the hens to feed up on wild grass seeds, acorns and smartweed seed, and/or a few other wild seed varieties. According to their information, these types of seed contain important nutrients that help the hens produce harder eggshells and build up badly needed calories. So where do the ducks get these types of seeds? Many of these seeds are natural to wetland environments and for several years state agencies have been working with Ducks Unlimited and other non-profit groups, developing moist soil units or moist soil types of environments for the ducks. This time of year, the moist soil units are especially beneficial for the ducks. A large part goes back to the calories a duck uses in their migration. The migration is the same basic distant back that it was coming south. Ducks burn a tremendous amount of calories trying to make it back to their breeding grounds and weak, unhealthy ducks simply don't produce as many eggs as the healthy ones should. In fact, ducks that have not had the time or the resources to build up their strength, may not survive the return flight. Most farmers, who flood their fields for waterfowl, want to get the water off the fields as soon as the season is over so they can start farming. No one can blame them for that, but the practice of early field draining does reduce after season feeding areas. Since moist soil units don't interfere with farming operations, the state agencies and individual organizations who control moist soil units can leave the water on those areas for a longer period of time. This helps provide the returning birds with extra areas to get the nutrients they need before heading back north. Then again, when the birds do make it back to the breeding grounds, they're faced with a multitude of other problems. Problems so severe the ducks might be lucky they can't read some of the headlines. Waterfowl nesting acres are being plowed under at an alarming rate. Again, we can't blame the farmers for wanting to make the most of their land, but no matter how healthy the ducks are when they return to the breeding grounds, they have to have a place to nest. Without adequate nesting areas, population numbers will drop and they can drop fast! In a recent budget proposal, President Bush proposed raising the $15 Federal Duck Stamp fee to $25. The $15 fee was established in 1991 and has not been adjusted since. It's estimated that the additional revenue, from the proposed price increase, would raise approximately 14 million dollars a year. Delta Waterfowl has come out in support of the rate increase, but also recommended a higher percentage of the additional revenue be allocated to the Prairie Pothole Region. Or, as I've always heard it called, The Duck Factory! The additional funds would allow for the acquisition of approximately 6,800 acres of migratory bird habitat and secure easements for 10,000 additional acres of wetlands. Anyway you slice that pie; the $10 addition to the stamp's cost has the potential to impact close to 17,000 acres of prime breeding grounds. That's room for a lot more nests than we have right now! Then again, if the cost for a Federal Duck Stamp is increased, it will take time to see the change implemented. Then we have to wait until the revenue comes in and is distributed to proper agencies or organizations to handle the acquisitions. That's another reason why it's so important for the private organizations, that are supposed to represent us, to endorse the increase and get things rolling in the proper political direction. After all, it is an election year. In the meantime, the reports I hear on water conditions in the Dakotas and Saskatchewan aren't the best. Water reports and nesting conditions from other regions sound more favorable, but it appears we need a late snow or spring rains in the Prairie Pothole Region. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the rain or snow they need, so the ducks can make the most out of the breeding grounds that are available. Here in Arkansas we've had a really wet February and the ducks have had plenty of places to feed and rest up. With warmer temperatures on their way, the water will be drying up soon and it looks like this flight of ducks will be … Fat and Happy … when they head home to the nesting grounds! Charles "HammerTime" Snapp |
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