Recent weather across the prairie hold promise for this year’s waterfowl breeding population. Heavy rain and light snow have been falling across much of the Prairie Pothole Region over the last few days, with some areas receiving as much as four inches of rain.
With the May pond counts already underway it is hard to say just how that survey will be impacted, but the rains are coming at a good time for waterfowl production. While the rain is welcome, snow fall does have the potential to encourage nest abandonment. But current forecast models do not indicate long duration of snow cover in areas that receive measurable accumulation, so chances of abandonment due to snowfall are low.
Overall, the effect of the recent, and ongoing precipitation events look to be a positive one for this breeding season. Waterfowler.com will keep you up to date on the latest news from the breeding ground as the spring rolls on.
