Look for Mad Coyote in October part 2
Alberta – Fish and Wildlife Director Curt Smith of Alberta said breeding ducks are down 25 to 35 percent overall in the province. Many pairs of ducks on potholes do not appear to have been successful in nesting attempts. This is particularly evident among canvas backs and redheads. Early broods appeared to indicate rather good nesting success in the early part of June. But the optimism generated at the appearance of early broods has now been curtailed by the absence of succeeding hatches. It appears that ducks again will be scarce throughout Alberta, as was the case last year. The only optimistic observation that can be made is that rains falling south or Edmonton may increase the ground moisture and, if rains continue, they may provide a condition more suitable for a runoff next spring. Rains south of Edmonton have only reduced evaporation and contributed nothing to re-establishing potholes here.
E.W. Burkell, Alberta provincial manager of Ducks Unlimited, said that southern and east-central portions of the province are experiencing drought conditions. Because of the lack of runoff, there wasn’t water to entice the birds. The more northerly parkland areas generally are in good-to-excellent condition. But some birds nested on non permanent waters.
Fred Sharp, Alberta provincial naturalist reported that one of the brightest spots in the province is the Peace River area north of Edmonton. Spending the second week in May there, he found water conditions excellent, with the countryside dotted with countless potholes full of water at full-supply level. In the south, waterfowl are at a minimum, while in the Grande Prairie-Peace River areas there is a heavy nesting population. Although there is an excellent population in the north, it would not account for the large numbers of ducks missing from the big duck factory of the short-grass plains.
North Dakota – Bud Morgan, Midwest representative for the National Wildlife Federation, stated that 104 square miles in north-central North Dakota were sampled on June 1. Water conditions were greatly improved over 1961, and nearly twice as many ducks were recorded. The ducks were there to raise families, and the greatly improved quality of production habitat indicates they will be successful. Most of the water was the result of May rains which came after the peak of migration had moved into Canada. Production in North Dakota may be increased over that of 1961 but may not be sufficient to recoup losses of the past three years.
South Dakota – Walter Fillmore, game-fish and parks director for South Dakota, commented that, for once, there was more water than there were ducks to fill the available nesting habitat. Water conditions are excellent throughout the state, probably as good as they ever will be. Unfortunately, when the spring migration took place through the state, many water holes were dry or nearly so. When the potholes did fill up, many ducks had already passed through. Even so, it would appear that production will be above or near the ten-year average. May surveys indicated a 64 percent increase in water and a 44 percent increase in nesting ducks over 1961. Since June, however, conditions in the Dakotas have turned more bleak.
Flick Davis, game management chief in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with headquarters in Minneapolis, said the most recent information is that duck production in the Dakotas has been poor. Many nests were drowned out when the rains came after nesting had begun. Those broods which survey men checked have been small in size and number. The broods are averaging only three or four ducks, and in North Dakota only one brood was seen that had as many as six ducklings. Moreover, those broods that have appeared are very late. Usually the first broods of mallards and pintails are seen around May 20; this year mallard and pintail broods only days-old were seen as late as July 1.
Minnesota – Jim Kimball, Minnesota game and fish director, reported water conditions 98 percent improved over 1961 in the western pothole area and that levels have held up well through the summer. Breeding-pair survey were made in ten western countries where most of the ducks are produced Local ducks, principally mallards and bluewing teal, are up an estimated 10 percent over last year, and 14 percent above the 1958-61 average. There was some flooding of nests and some renesting, but the feeling is that over production will be at least as good as last year.
So, all in all, it looks like this is not yet the year for liberalization of duck harvest regulations. But there is an encouragement for the future in the fall that 1962 saw the end of the long drought that nearly ruined major duck producing regions.
Now, at least, we seem to be turned around and headed in the right direction. And we must remember that ducks are an elastic wildlife resource. They can and have bounded back from dangerously low population levels. But they need conservation by man and major assist from the weather.
At the turn of the century incalculable millions of ducks migrated along the flyways of North America. Hunting was unrestricted as to seasons, method and limits.
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