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Birds routinely use habitats on both sides of the international border to meet their daily and seasonal resource requirements
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Banding & Telemetry 
Fraser River Delta-North Puget Sound Research Program
In the fall of 2002, Ducks Unlimited Canada began a four-year research project in conjunction with Ducks Unlimited Inc. to help understand habitat use decisions by waterfowl and develop one of the first Ducks Unlimited cross border conservation plans.
Each year, biologists trap American wigeon and northern pintail as they arrive on the wintering grounds in the fall, outfitting them with Radio-transmitters. Over the fall and winter biologists track the location of each of the birds and examine the agricultural and shoreline habitat the birds use throughout the winter. Combining these two pieces of research allows DUC to estimate what energy is available to birds and identify the habitats they choose. The results will help DUC refine conservation planning in this important region.
Biologists chose wigeon and pintail as their study species because they have very different feeding habits. Although both are dabblers, wigeon graze on new green vegetation and eelgrass in the intertidal zone, while pintails prefer seeds and invertebrates. By identifying and conserving habitats that support these species, other less picky feeders, like mallards, will benefit.
Research Partners
- Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Ducks Unlimited Inc.
- Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research
- Canadian Wildlife Service
- BC Institute of Technology
- BC Waterfowl Society
