The snow goose migration continues with birds pushing into South Dakota, Nebraska and Western Iowa. Light goose numbers in Kansas and Missouri have continued to decline over of the weekend, though hunters reported decent, last-minute harvests.
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As snow begins to melt on the Central Plains, light geese have pushed northward to the edge of the snow line and slightly beyond. The snow pack in Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota remains at substantial at this time — with current temperatures in the twenties. While light goose numbers have dropped significantly in Kansans and Missouri, the hard-working light goose hunter is still scratching out a fair harvest.
Of course, one of the advantages of spending time in the field during the spring is witnessing the return flights of ducks to the nesting grounds. Light goose hunters have consistently reported the skies filled with mallards, gadwall and widgeon over the past weeks, along with great flights and rafts of diving ducks.
The levels of snow that provided a near perfect fall migration and steady light goose season thus far will also provide some of the best nesting conditions in decades.
A recent report from Delta Waterfowl Foundation stated the record soil moisture and snow pack is both a boon for duck production and looming disaster. A quick melt could result in dangerous flooding in both the United States and Canada.
“This is nothing but good news for ducks,” says Delta Waterfowl Scientific Director Dr. Frank Rohwer. “When you get great water conditions, you get more females breeding where they should be breeding…on the prairies.”
Increased water on the Prairie Pothole Region results in more nesting hens, and increased survivability of broods. With drastic budget cuts jeopardizing the survivability of conservation programs in Congress, a little help from Mother Nature this nesting season could not have come at a better time.
While it’s easy to get lost in the hype and potential success of a great nesting season, the health of the resource is determined by the worst years, not the best. In short, conservation efforts are designed to maintain and raise the base level of our lowest production years. The danger of having a great nesting season when budgets are being cut is that this false positive could lead to a perception that life is grand on the prairie. With the proposed bloodletting in federal funding, this could be one of the last great years of waterfowl production.
Waterfowler.com encourages our members to stay in touch with their congressional leaders and maintain a voice in the process. Make an extra effort to monitor the efforts of Delta Waterfowl Foundation and Ducks Unlimited over the next few months and help protect the funding that protects our wetlands.
Until our next report, visit deltawaterfowl.org and ducks.org today.
