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Message
re: Drought & ducks
Posted on 8/22/12 at 8:03 am to Howard Juneau
Posted on 8/22/12 at 8:03 am to Howard Juneau
We gone swack an stack this year boys!! 
1
Posted on 8/22/12 at 8:06 am to i10Duck
quote:
Is it forecasted to send the ducks south faster?
seems that way
Posted on 8/22/12 at 8:27 am to tkr1407
A lot can happen between now and Nov. 10, and often something does. Katrina hit August 29, Rita on September 21 (if I remember right). This drought in the midwest has allowed lots of moist-soil vegetation to germinate and grow in wetlands across the region. A couple of good rainstorms will create outstanding habitat north of us regardless of what happens to the ag crops.
Also, be cautious of a large breeding population (highest on record) with a reduced habitat base (35% reduction in pond numbers). Those are precisely the conditions that lead to much lower reproductive success through breeding habitat limitations and density-dependent effects. My best friend in North Dakota reports that on most ponds the broods are getting hammered because the water level has dropped such that there is a mudflat between the emergent vegetation and the water, and there is no cover for ducklings. So that huge breeding population will very likely have much lower reproductive success providing a fall flight with a higher proportion of adult birds that don't cooperate near as well as young birds.
Still, with current habitat conditions, the stage is set for a potentially excellent season, especially if we can get some serious "cold" to go with this "dry". (If anyone is interested in the paper Bob Marshall quoted me on, it can be found at: LINK Of course, it was published in 1983 instead of 1984 but ....) But I would hold off for another couple of months on the high expectations.
Also, be cautious of a large breeding population (highest on record) with a reduced habitat base (35% reduction in pond numbers). Those are precisely the conditions that lead to much lower reproductive success through breeding habitat limitations and density-dependent effects. My best friend in North Dakota reports that on most ponds the broods are getting hammered because the water level has dropped such that there is a mudflat between the emergent vegetation and the water, and there is no cover for ducklings. So that huge breeding population will very likely have much lower reproductive success providing a fall flight with a higher proportion of adult birds that don't cooperate near as well as young birds.
Still, with current habitat conditions, the stage is set for a potentially excellent season, especially if we can get some serious "cold" to go with this "dry". (If anyone is interested in the paper Bob Marshall quoted me on, it can be found at: LINK Of course, it was published in 1983 instead of 1984 but ....) But I would hold off for another couple of months on the high expectations.
Posted on 8/22/12 at 8:34 am to Lreynolds
I don't know about anybody else, but I wouldn't mind going back to 30 or 45 day seasons if the drought forces us to in the coming years. It would certainly weed out a lot of the yahoos around. I would bet we could start seeing reduced seasons after only a couple of years of poor breeding results.
Posted on 8/22/12 at 8:50 am to Lreynolds
quote:
Lreynolds
Where you from?? We have something in common..
Posted on 8/22/12 at 9:00 am to i10Duck
quote:
Is it forecasted to send the ducks south faster?
Bird migration in general is several weeks to as much as a month early this year. The shore birds have been moving for a couple of weeks and now the song birds are starting their movement. The drought/lack of food is a large part of the reason but also it was so warm early this year that breeding started early.
Posted on 8/22/12 at 9:18 am to tkr1407
quote:
Where you from?? We have something in common..
I've been based in Baton Rouge since May of 1989, but I was born, raised and learned to hunt ducks in Sacramento, California. Spent a couple years in Winnemucca, Nevada in the early-70's and College Station, Texas in the late-80's.
If you are reading this thread, I bet we've got a number of things in common.
Posted on 8/22/12 at 7:24 pm to Lreynolds
quote:
If you are reading this thread, I bet we've got a number of things in common
I was referring to our last name, assuming that your las name is Reynolds.
Posted on 8/22/12 at 8:03 pm to Howard Juneau
quote:
While that study (like most) was done on a species that isn't a major part of the local bag -- mallards
They don't hunt where I hunt.
quote:
Louisiana waterfowlers should know that their GOP House delegation, most of whom claim to be pro-sportsmen, have been voting with this herd against regulations needed to protect waterfowl habitat.
quote:
But also consider the costs if nothing changes in Washington.
Boy, I love politics in my outdoor columns.
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