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Central and Southern Alberta selected for waterfowl research 
Summary—Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is conducting research in four key study areas across the Canadian prairies this summer, including sites near the communities of Holden, Mundare, Tofield, Vegreville, Viking, Cardston, Hill Spring, and Milk River, Alberta.
Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., May 12, 2008—Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is conducting research in four key study areas across the Canadian prairies this summer, including sites near the communities of Holden, Mundare, Tofield, Vegreville, Viking, Cardston, Hill Spring, and Milk River, Cardston, Hill Spring, and Milk River, Alberta.
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 seventh year of data collection for the study: previous study areas in Alberta have included Consort, Medicine Hat, St. Paul, and Stettler, and at locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
“Research is suggesting there is a positive relationship between waterfowl nesting success and the amount of perennial cover such as hayland, pasture, idle grassland, 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 Alberta study sites, the other SpATS areas this year are found in south-western Manitoba, and in south-central Saskatchewan. 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 kilometres each. Each site varies by the number of waterfowl pairs and area of perennial upland vegetation. About 25 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.
Local media are invited to visit the Alberta study area. To set up an interview, please contact the DUC representative listed below.
For more information or photos, contact:
Leigh Patterson, l_patterson@ducks.ca
Corporate Media Relations Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Oak Hammock Marsh, Man.
Tel: (204) 467-3306
