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South-Central Saskatchewan Waterfowl Research Sites Revisited 
Chaplin, Saskatchewan, April 25, 2005—Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is conducting research in four key study areas across the Canadian prairies this summer, including six sites stretching from Chaplin east to Moose Jaw, Sask. It is the second time that DUC will use these sites for research; the sites were last visited in 2002.
Researchers from DUC's science and research arm, the Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research (IWWR), are conducting the research as part of a ten-year study to determine how nesting success of prairie waterfowl varies in relation to the landscape types of the prairie pothole region. Common prairie duck species such as mallard, blue-winged teal, gadwall, northern pintail, northern shoveler, canvasback and redhead are the focus of this research, known as the Spatial and Temporal Study (SPATS). This is the fourth year of data collection for the study: previous study areas in Saskatchewan have included Blaine Lake, Chaplin, Kennedy, Shaunavon and Unity, and at locations in Alberta and Manitoba.
“Research is suggesting there is a positive relationship between waterfowl nesting success and the amount of perennial cover such hayland, pasture, trees and shrubs on the landscape,” said Bob Emery, IWWR biologist and a supervisor of the study . “We’re trying to see if all types of perennial cover contribute equally to such a relationship, or are some cover types better than others.”
In addition to the south-central Saskatchewan sites, the other SPATS areas are found in eastern Saskatchewan stretching from Esterhazy to Veregin, and from Foam Lake to Southey, as well as in central Alberta. The researchers are getting good support from these local communities, Emery says. “Over 100 landowners gave us permission to access their land for this research.”
Within each study area, there are six study sites of 41 square kilometers each. Each site varies by the number of waterfowl pairs and areas of perennial upland vegetation. About 20 researchers will be at these sites from now until August to search for duck nests, conduct waterfowl pair counts, and classify upland and wetland habitat.
“Drought conditions forced us to scale back our research when we were last at these sites in 2002,” says Emery. “But with improved moisture conditions we anticipate a full research effort this year”.
Local media are invited to visit the Saskatchewan study area. To set up an interview, please contact the DUC representative listed below.
For more information:
Leigh Patterson, l_patterson@ducks.ca
Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator, National/Prairie Region
Tel: 1-800-665-DUCK (3825)
(204) 467-3306
