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Jim Devries 
Regional Research Biologist
Jim Devries has been with IWWR since 1991 and has been a Regional Research Biologist for IWWR's western region since 1996. He is responsible for coordinating applied research for Ducks Unlimited within western Canada. This includes helping to identify research needs, designing research studies, analyzing research results and communicating research results to DU staff and the wider scientific community. He hires and supervises contract and casual support staff for ongoing IWWR research projects as well as designs and implements research projects aimed at evaluating the effects of Prairie Habitat Joint Venture and DU programs on waterfowl populations.
As part of his job, Devries conducts field work involving the decoy-trapping, banding, radio-tagging and tracking of female mallards, pair and brood surveys, nest searching and monitoring, upland and wetland habitat classification and assessment using GPS hardware and software. He also analyzes large databases for nest success, brood and duckling survival, recruitment, hen survival and habitat relationships. Jim has also been involved in translating much of IWWR’s recent field investigation results into the Waterfowl Productivity Model (WPM), a planning tool designed to estimate waterfowl productivity gains resulting from landscape change including the impacts of conservation programs. Jim is currently using the WPM to update PHJV habitat goals.
Devries finds it rewarding to work in all aspects of waterfowl research with the associated team of researchers in IWWR and to liaise with DU Canada field staff to address local research and information needs. The "can do" attitude of DU and IWWR staff helps make his role fulfilling and he also admires DU's unique ability to mobilize people and resources to accomplish specific research objectives.
