Ducks and Geese Finding Good Nesting Habitat This Spring

Parts of Southern Prairies Still Dry

May 31, 2004, Ducks Unlimited Canada National Office, Oak Hammock Marsh, Manitoba — From a bird’s eye view, Canada is looking pretty good for water conditions this spring. Recent significant snow and rainfall helped to improve conditions in the southern Prairies, a primary waterfowl nesting area, but waterfowl habitat in the areas the moisture missed remain in fair to poor condition.

“Waterfowl populations and water levels are clearly linked. Generally, the more wetlands we have, the better off the birds are,” said DUC’s chief biologist, Henry Murkin. “Each wetland type has a specific use by ducks. Spring ponds provide hens with food they need to produce eggs. More permanent wetlands, that hold water into the summer, provide essential habitat for ducklings. We like to see a good mix of wetland types on the land from spring to fall to support ducks through hatch to migration.”

Click map for larger view.

The storm that hit the southern Prairies mid-May dropped up to 45 centimetres of snow in areas south of the TransCanada Highway. In Alberta, this added moisture helped to fill up wetlands and waterways and improved water conditions from fair to good. Where the storm didn’t hit southern Alberta and into the aspen parkland, water conditions are still fair to poor. Moving north, the Peace parklands are in fair to good condition as waterfowl return to the region. Habitat conditions are fair to good throughout most of southern Saskatchewan . In southwestern Saskatchewan north of the TransCanada Highway, prairie habitats range from poor to fair with the bright spot being an area of central Saskatchewan with fair to good conditions that spans from Regina to east of Saskatoon. Good habitat exists along the Canadian-U.S. border in the southern Missouri Coteau, a waterfowl breeding hot spot. The spring storm and recent rains have rejuvenated habitat in southern Manitoba. Wetland conditions have improved from fair to good with the exception of southwestern Manitoba which remains in fair condition. Elsewhere in the province, good conditions prevail.

Very good to excellent spring habitat exists along the British Columbia coast Vancouver Island and in the Fraser Delta region. Habitats in the interior are in generally poor to fair condition. Fair to good habitat exists in the Peace River Valley and in a small area of central B.C. around Williams Lake. In the rest of the province, habitat conditions are dry, the result of nearly three years of drought.

Wetlands in nearly all of southern Ontario have good to very good water conditions. In the extreme southwestern part of the province near Windsor, conditions are fair. Farther east, spring habitats in Quebec and Atlantic Canada range from good to very good. Nearly all wetlands in Atlantic Canada are at full supply.

“We’ve already seen our first broods hatching out across the country,” Murkin said. “Although conditions are variable across the country, we are expecting an average waterfowl production year in most areas.”

Since 1938, Ducks Unlimited Canada (www.ducks.ca) has been conserving, restoring and managing wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. A map of spring habitat conditions is available at: www.ducks.ca.

For more information:

Lauralou Cicierski, l_cicierski@ducks.ca
National Media and Public Relations Coordinator
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Tel: (204) 467-3252