Breeding ducks
June 19th, 2005 by Administrator
Breeding ducks still booming North Dakota’s reputation as a duck production factory looks like it will remain intact following the spring duck survey conducted by the North Dakota Game & Fish Department.
The 58th annual statewide survey was completed in May and the numbers have now been tabulated.
“Our statewide duck population index is the seventh-highest on record,” said Mike Johnson, department migratory game bird management supervisor. “It’s just remarkable. We’ve been off the chart since 1994 and ‘95.”
The state’s highest duck count since recordkeeping began in 1948 occurred in 2002. Duck numbers had dipped severely in North Dakota during the ’80s and early ’90s. Johnson credits the Conservation Reserve Program and good water in the pothole country for the turnaround.
The Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is home to one of the largest concentrations of breeding ducks in the state. Manager Fred Giese said the number of potential nesters using the refuge this year is higher than normal.
“We had water before the rest of the state was wet and ducks moved in here that would usually stop elsewhere,” Giese said.
The number of ducks choosing to set up spring shop in the state happened despite less than ideal water conditions. Many of the state’s potholes contained only minimal water, well below the high water period that began in 1993. Heavy June rains arrived too late to attract additional breeding ducks that had already overflown the state. However, the rain has changed water conditions considerably and may still provide some benefits.
“While the increase in water was too late to significantly affect breeding duck distribution, it will certainly contribute to the potential for renesting by failed hens and improve brood survival,” Johnson said. Giese agreed, saying, “We’ve probably got the best conditions we’ve ever had for renesting. The vegetation is green and tall, making better cover for a second nest, and we’ve had more rain.”
Ducks are one of nature’s most determined nesters. If they lose a clutch of eggs to a predator or other acts of nature, they will immediately restart the process. Mallards, the most popular duck with hunters, have been known to renest up to four times. Recent rains have added greatly to the ground cover necessary to hide duck nests from mink, fox and skunk. It also provides much-needed cover for the perilous journey when ducklings leave the nest for the nearest water that will offer protection from predators and provide a protein-rich source of life-sustaining invertebrates.
A high number of ducks in the spring doesn’t always mean a big hatch or a great hunting season, but North Dakota’s nesters are off to an excellent start. Giese is very encouraged.
“I think this will be one of the better years for production a very good year.”
The birds still face the usual problems in bringing off broods, but the state’s big numbers of potential nesters greatly increases the odds of adding plenty of young ducks to the flyway. Johnson cautiously reminds hunters that despite the large populations of ducks and prospects for a good production year, fall weather always has a big impact on the success of the hunting season.
Ironically, biologists would actually like to see a period of drier conditions.
Just having water doesn’t mean it’s good for ducks. Many of the state’s wetlands have been wet for several years, depleting the necessary supply of invertebrates in some critical habitat areas. The drying up of potholes is part of nature’s recharging cycle for the creation of ideal duck habitat. When potholes fill with water, they also fill with invertebrates that are a vitally important food source for duckings.
More will be known about the state’s duck hatch after brood surveys are conducted in July. Those results will provide a better indicator of production. Based on current numbers and conditions, it’s likely that the brood surveys will confirm another excellent year of duck production in North Dakota
By KIM FUNDINGSLAND, Staff Writer kfundingsland@ndweb.com