The spring breeding and habitat surveys are complete and the data will soon be released in the 2009 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. Early habitat reports from the spring survey teams are good to excellent across the North American waterfowl breeding range – with most habitat conditions improved over 2008 and pond counts in many areas well above the 10-year average.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
The Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey that occurs each spring includes data collected from over 2.1 million acres in the United States and Canada. In short, it is one of the most intense and extensive wildlife surveys in existence. The heavy winter precipitation that played a significant role in improving habitat across the waterfowl breeding range continued into late May and early June in the northern most survey areas. Survey flights were often grounded and the crews struggled to complete surveys on time.
For those that followed the FLIGHT LOG reports on Flyway.us (a U.S. Fish and Wildlife website produced in collaboration with flyway and state waterfowl managers), the news of improved habitat conditions have been trickling in since the surveys began in early May. For those that missed these detailed, real-time reports, you can still read the flight logs at: http://flyways.us/status-of-waterfowl/pilot-reports
From the Alaska and Yukon Territory to Saskatchewan, Manitoba and east to Maine, Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada, the flight logs put you in the cockpit with the survey teams and provided insight and summaries of data from the 12 crews that took to the skies this spring.
Waterfowler.com encourages all of our readers to make time to review the reports. They are far more entertaining than your average USFWS data report and a great way to understand the volume of work that goes into determining season lengths and bag limits each and every year.
In other news, the construction of the Virtual Online Lodge for Waterfowler.com is nearing completion and WFC’s Volunteer Field Editors (VFEs) are expected to have access to the 3-D environment by mid-July. The programming staff have been spending their lunch hours busting targets at the trap stations behind the Virtual Lodge, or bagging a few ducks at the digital marsh. The lodge, bunkhouse, pickin’ shack and docks have all been completed, as well as work on a few seasonal environments and games that will appear during the general waterfowl season. As we approach the launch, the staff and programming teams are very pleased with the development and we are confident our members will be too. In short, it will be easy to access and use, and darn fun. Stay tuned to the WFC forums for updates and prelaunch information.
Until our next report, encourage a friend or family to take a Hunter Safety course this summer.
