More record breaking warmth rolled across the country this week, pushing all but the last remnants of the snow goose migration back into Canada.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
With the breeding season underway all eyes are on the duck factory. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s May pond counts, an aerial survey done to estimate waterfowl breeding populations and nesting conditions. This portion of the monitoring process is a key in setting next year’s waterfowl season. So, as the survey gets underway we will keep you up to date on the latest reports and conditions from the breeding ground.
Waterfowler.com was on hand for the National Antique Decoy & Sporting Collectibles Show in St. Charles, Illinois last week. The record breaking auction and countless treasures available to collectors makes this show a surefire way to rekindle the waterfowling spirits during the long off season. Put on by the Midwest Decoy Collectors Association, the show takes place in late April in St. Charles. Highlights from this year’s show will be featured in the upcoming spring issue of Waterfowler.com Journal. For more information on next year’s show visit the Midwest Decoy Collectors Association website (http://midwestdecoy.org)
And now, on to the Migration Report.
Just over a week remains for light goose hunting on the US side of the border. Recent warm weather has pushed all but the last holdouts of the returning snows and blues back across the Canadian border. With a strong warming trend in place across much of the nation, look for any remaining birds to be packing their bags and going through customs any day now.
In Canada the migration of spring light geese is moving fast. Birds crossing the border are stopping only briefly as they make their way back to the tundra for the breeding season.
Reports out of Canada show good concentrations around Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and eastward. Western portions of Saskatchewan are suffering from drought conditions, holding the geese farther to the eastern side of the province.
