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Amherst Marsh
Time - 9:17 1985 VHS and 16mm
In the 1700's, the Acadians built dikes to exclude the sea from the Fundy tidal marshes to provide haylands. The government of Nova Scotia and Ducks Unlimited undertook extensive development from 1979 to 1984 to recreate the once-healthy wetlands abandoned as hayland in the 1950's. This film describes the engineering and the management techniques used to maintain the wetlands which now attract a variety of birds, animals, waterfowl and people.
Ancient Exodus
Time - 28:00 1977 VHS and 16mm
Monitoring the migration of waterfowl from Mexico's wintering marshes through stop-over areas in the United States and finally to Canada's breeding grounds, the film highlights the importance of good waterfowl habitat. The film skilfully depicts Ducks Unlimited's efforts to provide waterfowl with adequate wintering and nesting habitat throughout North America.
Backflood Hay Management
Time - 11:40 1987 VHS
With the aid of a well-designed backflooding program, slough hay can out-yield tame grass/legume stands and provide an economical source of fodder to cattle producers. Techniques, management considerations and successful applications are discussed. Emphasis is placed on production of whitetop and sedges in the western provinces.
Beaver Pond Management
Time - 11:00 1996 VHS
Join Ontario's provincial biologist Ted Gadawski as he explains the value of working with these industrious creatures through the Beaver Pond Management Program. When beavers set up house, they create prime habitat for animals such as moose, deer, snakes, turtles and countless insects. Waterfowl also come in droves. But after about 10 years, beaver ponds begin to deteriorate. Prolonged flooding and high water cause the pond to stagnate and eventually lose its value. Food sources disappear, and so do waterfowl and wildlife. Through beaver pond management, Ducks Unlimited replenishes the food supply, the beavers return, and with them a host of other animals and plants.
See how Ducks Unlimited's Beaver Pond Management Program is helping to offset the massive loss of Canada's naturally diverse wetlands.
Birds of A Feather - Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Center
Time - 5:14 1994 VHS
So what's all the fuss about? The Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Center may have been brought into the world in the thick of heated debate, but like any well-tended youngster, it's turning out just fine and it's rapidly maturing into the world-class destination it was intended to be. This video tells the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Center story from the point of view of the people who actually built Oak Hammock Marsh and who still care for it. If you want it straight from the horse's mouth, you'll get a kick out of this short video.
Black Duck
Time - 27:00 1963 VHS and 16mm
This is the story of the black duck, a hardy and resourceful eastern counterpart of the mallard. Winner of many awards, "Black Duck" has been widely acclaimed as one of the finest nature films ever produced. Renowned Canadian photo-naturalist William Carrick, photographed the complete life cycle of the handsome black duck from nesting to migration.
Canvasback
Time - 27:00 1969 VHS and 16mm
The canvasback, king of the divers, is the star of this outstanding film essay. Both hunters and conservationists will enjoy the superb camera studies of this fascinating North American duck. The value of Ducks Unlimited projects on the prairie breeding grounds to this species receives particular attention.
Challenge - Farming Without Tillage
Time - 10:30 1996 VHS
In this video, Lee Moats, DU's agrologist in Saskatchewan, talks about zero till from wildlife, environmental and economic perspectives. A zero till farmer himself, Moats speaks with conviction about the merits of this exciting new conservation practice.
Decisions
Time - 17:00 1974 VHS and 16mm
A legendary motion picture celebrity, the late John Wayne, narrates this popular film, a brief history of Ducks Unlimited. He explains the working of Ducks Unlimited and describes how Canadians and Americans have cooperated to conserve North America's dwindling waterfowl resources. The film contains excellent historical footage and outstanding wildlife photography. It is suitable for audiences of all ages.
The Difference We Make
Time - 23:44 1994 VHS
What does Ducks Unlimited mean to the people who support it and carry out its programs? Here's the answer. From Saskatchewan to the Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula this is the story of the partnerships between three Ducks Unlimited organizations in North America. Ducks Unlimited Canada, Ducks Unlimited de Mexico and Ducks Unlimited, Inc., of the United States. It tells how they work together, how they find support for Ducks Unlimited programs, who they work with and what they do for the waterfowl and wildlife resources of the North American continent. Best of all, it answers the most important question: Why?
DU Video Guide to Waterfowl and Game Birds
Time - 75:00 1986 VHS (not for purchase)
This film is a comprehensive sight and sound identification key for 43 waterfowl species and 21 upland game birds of North America. Dynamic footage combined with still photography and computer animated graphics focus today's technology on identifying birds on the wing in their natural ranges. This film is a must for hunters and naturalists.
Grand Passage
Time - 2:40 VHS
For more information on this video, contact the DU office nearest you.
Greenwing
Time - 29:33 1982 VHS and 16mm
A young boy's curiosity about waterfowl leads him to a seasoned hunter and woodsman who teaches him about waterfowl and hunting. The knowledge gained helps the boy win the Ducks Unlimited Great Greenwing Adventure essay contest - a one-week summer trip to southern Alberta with other teens from Canada, U.S. and Mexico. There he gains firsthand experience in Ducks Unlimited's wetlands conservation programs. The film, especially suited to young audiences, deals with waterfowl characteristics and identification, migration, flyways, conservation through organizations like Ducks Unlimited, and good hunting practices.
Health of the Land
Time - 27:20 1984 VHS and 16mm
A farmer and his grandson discuss the relationship between wetlands and farmlands and how water is vital to both. The implications of burning, drainage and intensive cultivation on soil erosion and wildlife habitat are discussed along with alternate management practices which benefit both agriculture and wildlife.
Hullett
Time - 9:03 1985 VHS and 16mm
Tour the vibrant Hullett Wildlife Management Area near Clinton, in southwestern Ontario and experience a colorful and enlightening look at the numerous species of waterfowl, animals and birds which inhabit the marsh. Built by Ducks Unlimited to develop stable wetlands from the unpredictable floodplains, this project is a popular destination for thousands of visitors annually.
A Hunter's Ethics
Time - 20:00 1990 VHS
"To know what is right, and not do it, is the worst form of cowardice." -Confucius
During a day on a marsh, a father teaches his young son that with the privilege of hunting waterfowl comes responsibility. Produced for Ducks Unlimited, Inc., this straightforward video encourages hunters, young and old, to follow good hunting practices using a common sense approach. Through situations and candid conversations, the video illustrates how ignorance and frustration can lead to unnecessary waste. It encourages the respect of rules and property and emphasizes the importance of bird identification and spotting. The film stresses the need to regard the waterfowl resource as a heritage to pass on to future generations.
If You Build It
Time - 21:00 1991 VHS
This upbeat, entertaining video features Nathan, Katie and Chris - three teenagers in Alberta who share an experience of fantasy as they discover what people can do to restore and preserve wetlands. They meet a credible wizard in Marshall who takes them on quick trips to three wetland locations near their homes to witness real conservation stuff. Some special effects and excellent acting make this a very acceptable production for a junior high school age viewing audience. Adults, too, enjoy both the style and message.
"If You Build It..." was produced by VICOM of Edmonton as a component of a course in biology now being delivered in Alberta schools.
The Legend of Greenwing
Time - 8:35 1993 VHS
Pull up to the campfire, listen to the Legend of Greenwing and learn how "The People of The Duck" came to conserve Canadian wetlands. Greenwing is an educational program for youth between the ages of seven and seventeen, created ten years ago by Ducks Unlimited Canada. Watch how Greenwing youth are introduced to wildlife and habitat firsthand. See them participate in activities at Greenwing events across the country, including bird banding, nest building and canoeing. You will learn that the Legend of Greenwing is about fun, learning, and hope for the future.
Life Cycle of Waterfowl
Time - 24:00 VHS
For more information on this video, contact the DU office nearest you.
A Matter of Perspective
Time - 15:00 1980 VHS and 16mm
This film chronicles the evolution of the prairies as human settlement spread, resulting in loss of natural habitat for wildlife and waterfowl. A fascinating look at how the drought and great depression of the 1930's, threatening waterfowl, brought about the origin of Ducks Unlimited and the beginning of the conservation programs that work for our waterfowl and wildlife today.
Marshwalker
Time - 16:10 1987 VHS and 16mm
This commemorative Ducks Unlimited, Inc. 50th Anniversary documentary, narrated by actor Cliff Robertson, chronicles Ducks Unlimited's efforts in protecting North America's declining wetlands. A fascinating segment introduces Landsat V, a computer-aided satellite, and its role in producing accurate and economical inventories of North American wetlands.
More Than Ducks
Time - 23:00 1995 VHS
Take a close look at a wetland. Waterfowl abound, but hidden behind the cattails and in the water are hundreds of species such as white-tailed deer, herons, muskrats, frogs, water lillies and water boatmen who call this kind of habitat home. It's a concept Ducks Unlimited Canada likes to call More Than Ducks.
Pacific Estuaries...Where Rivers Join the Sea
Time - 28:00 1989 VHS and 16mm
Fertile deltas where rivers join the sea teem with wildlife. Salmon, bear, whales, eagles, waterfowl and many others seek sustenance and shelter in these unique bio-systems created where salt and fresh water mix. Some wildlife species are year-round residents of these "gateways between the land and sea"; others stop only during their annual migration. The importance of the Pacific estuaries and their wildlife diversity is documented in this fascinating film by noted Canadian wildlife cinematographer Robert Long. Dramatic wildlife footage against a backdrop of Canada's rugged Pacific coast blend to create a memorable, entertaining and educational experience.
Partners
Time - 24:30 1987 VHS and 16mm
This well-paced film examines the massive Ducks Unlimited project in the Carrot River Triangle in northern Manitoba, and development of the huge delta as a prime wildlife area. Seen through the eyes of trapper Billie Cook of The Pas, Manitoba, it presents the positive aspects of man's involvement in wetland ecology and the effects of a large marsh in the surrounding community. The partnership of man and nature in maintaining wildlife production in wetlands is stressed. Graphic description of the principle of "drawdown" and winter construction scenes are among the highlights.
Perpetual Motion
Time - 9:52 1993 VHS
It was supposed to take ten years and one million dollars, but that was in 1938. It didn't take Ducks Unlimited founders long to realize what a massive job they had taken on. Today, the world's premiere private-sector wetland and waterfowl habitat conservation agency spends about fifty million dollars each year on habitat programs, research and education in Canada alone. Have a look at this video and you'll get an eye-opener on how far-reaching those programs are. And you discover who supports them. It's the Ducks Unlimited Canada story and this video has the latest chapter.
A Place for Wildlife
Time - 27:23 1984 VHS and 16mm
Ensuring a place for wildlife within our environment is the objective of Ducks Unlimited's work improving wetland habitat. This film follows the development of three different Ducks Unlimited Canada wetland improvement projects...
The Kitsim Project near Brooks, Alberta, where water is moved uphill to fill dry basins for improved cattle grazing and for increasing waterfowl population.
The Hullett Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Ontario built to control spring flooding and to maintain wet marshes and brood ponds throughout the year.
The Amherst Marsh in Nova Scotia, which stabilizes the water flow in extensive mud flats and tidal marshes to create more productive habitat for a range of wildlife.
Planned Grazing
Time - 20:42 1994 VHS
Ranchers and Ducks Unlimited work together across the Northern Great Plains to develop grazing systems that increase beef production and at the same time improve wildlife habitat and stop soil degradation. Thirteen prairie ranchers explain their own unique planned grazing systems giving us insights into equipment, expense, timing, management and benefits to themselves, their herd and the environment.
Prairie Care
Time - 6:38 1994 VHS
This video demonstrates why Ducks Unlimited does more than merely manage wetlands. Besides supporting agriculture, prairie uplands also provide habitat for over half the Canadian duck population. Because of this, Ducks Unlimited Canada implemented the Prairie CARE program in the 1980's to promote farming conservation practices that would mutually benefit wildlife and landusers. The video covers land management techniques to improve agricultural productivity and habitat such as Planned Grazing and Zero Tillage.
Prairie Giant
Time - 23:00 VHS and 16mm
This is a story of the giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima), largest of all wild geese - thought to be extinct in the 1930's. Filming with skill and artistry against a Canadian prairie setting, this film provides intimate glimpses as the giant Canadas arrive from the south before the snow has gone and begin nesting. Dramatic fall sequences capture the birds as they gather in large flocks before leaving again for their winter quarters. There is an enchanting summer interlude with sequences of prairie birds and small animals to delight the audience.
Quality Water for Livestock
Time - 29:00 1992 VHS
This half hour production visits a dozen prairie ranchers and depicts methods they are using to supply better quality water to their cattle and at the same time enhance waterfowl habitat.
A Question of Hunting
Time - 30:00 1975 16mm
This film, produced by Remington Arms Company and Ducks Unlimited, examines hunting attitudes in a clear dispassionate manner by presenting the view-points of both sportsmen and non-hunters in a thoughtful, balanced dialogue designed to promote discussion rather than confrontation.
Reflections on a Prairie Slough
Time - 27:30 1991 VHS and 16mm
The potholes or sloughs formed by a glacier's retreat from the central plains of North America, are now some of the earth's most productive areas for waterfowl. However, loss of these vital wetland habitats has accelerated in recent years due to intensive land use.
This thoughtful film captures the musings of a young prairie farmer as he follows through on his daily land management routines. Through his perspective we gain some understanding of the conflict between environmental concerns and the pressures of daily life.
We learn, as well, that sloughs are rough-cut jewels that are much more precious than most people realize - especially those who encounter them regularly. From the smallest pond creatures, to the glory of a rainbow arcing above farm fields, producer Robert Long captures on film the aesthetic and practical values of these farm wetlands.
Return to Duck Country
Time - 27:00 1967 VHS and 16mm
Both ducks and geese are featured in this sensitive film about spring migration to Canadian nesting grounds. Sequences of early arrival, courting parties, selection of territories, nesting, brood raising and, finally, the southward exodus are skilfully blended to present a vivid picture of waterfowl activity. The finale features hunting scenes filmed in the various flyways.
The Right Direction
Time - 23:00 or 8:00 1994 VHS
A grandfather and his two grandchildren learn about Ducks Unlimited Canada's native plant program through a newspaper article that comes to life before their eyes. Native plants that evolved and flourished under 16,000 years of prairie conditions have almost disappeared. The video explains how techniques such as planned grazing, prairie fires, chemical weed control, sculptured seeding and ecovar seed development are used to replicate nature and ensure healthy native plant communities. Economical, low-maintenance and diverse native plants can stabilize fragile agricultural lands, revegetate commercially disturbed surfaces, and provide excellent wildlife habitat. The longer version of the video provides more technical information.
Rotational Grazing
Time - 8:10 1985 VHS and 16mm
Rotational grazing can increase productivity and carrying capacity and reduce over grazing of tame and native pastures while maintaining wildlife habitat quality. It involves fencing pastures into paddocks and moving cattle from pasture to pasture over the grazing season. Techniques, benefits and successful applications are discussed. The system proposed in this film is economical, easily managed and effective.
Same Time Each Year
Time - 5:00 1988 VHS and 16mm
This beautifully photographed short film captures the quiet early morning chill of a marsh in fall as hunters in their blinds await the dawn. The film is of particular interest to the tens of thousands of waterfowlers who so generously support Ducks Unlimited. Exhilarating scenes of waterfowl aerobatics underscore Ducks Unlimited's continuing role in conserving vital wetlands to ensure our waterfowl resource.
The Shores of Life
Time - 27:31 1991 VHS and 16mm
Between the dry land habitats of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and the salt water of the Atlantic, there is a vital band of wetland habitats. The shores are influenced by both the sea and the land, and create ecological systems which are more diverse and more productive than either land or sea.
"The Shores of Life" explores the biological wealth of these Atlantic coastal wetlands, from the microbes of salt marsh tidepools, beachcombing sandpipers and the bald eagles of Bras D'Or to human harvest of fish and waterfowl.
Once again, Robert Long's incredible perspectives bring us close to these Eastern shores and present us with insights of Nature's wonders few others have experienced. Narrated by Paul MacLeod with music by Acadian folk fiddler Marcel Doucet.
So Little Time
Time - 28:30 VHS and 16mm
Produced by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Branch, this film deals with the plight of waterfowl and other wildlife under the influence of settlement and industrialization. Excellent color photography depicts nature's "whispering wings" with exciting shots of Canada geese, canvasback ducks, whistling swans and many other waterfowl species.
Sprig Tail
Time - 25:00 1971 VHS and 16mm
"Sprig Tail"..."Pinnie"..."Greyhound of the sky"...by any nickname, the pintail still ranks high in any popularity poll of North American waterfowl. This unusual movie portrays the life cycle of the pintail using superbly photographed close-ups, excellent flight sequences and heartwarming brood scenes expertly woven into a memorable species portrait.
Stubble Mulching
Time - 11:50 1986 VHS
Stubble mulching provides a cost-effective alternative to summerfallow in lower rainfall areas of the prairies and offers added soil erosion prevention benefits. Equipment, techniques, timing and management considerations needed for an effective seasonal stubble mulch program are discussed.
There Is More To A Marsh...
Time - 11:00 1991 VHS and 16mm
This award-winning vignette effectively overlaps the cycle of seasons with the attraction of wetlands to ordinary folk who enjoy the outdoors - bird watchers, hunters, canoeists, fishermen, photographers, artists and ever-curious children. Both poetic and intense, the production evokes deep feelings of kinship between sensitive people and their natural world and stimulates a determination to care for special places. "There Is More To A Marsh..." was produced by Camera West Film Productions of Regina and as named the best sort film in the 1991 Saskatchewan Film Showcase.
Touched by the Tide
Time - 17:12 1991 VHS and 16mm
Explore wetland habitats powerfully influenced by the great tides of the Bay of Fundy. Discover interesting life forms whose very existence, as well as habits, are molded by the twice-daily pulse of the Atlantic. Enriched marine pastures at the mouth of Fundy attract great whales, puffins and razorbills. Mud flats in the upper reaches seethe with microscopic creatures in great variety. Daily fluctuating marshlands are havens for waterfowl and shorebirds. Human settlements from prehistory to the present have also been shaped by the surging salt water bores. Robert Long's vivid footage and the haunting melodies of the Rankin Family, make this production a deeply appealing visual and auditory experience.
Watching Wild Wings
Time - 26:00 1970 VHS and 16mm
The late Bing Crosby hosts this intriguing short course in the field waterfowl identification. There are over 50 kinds of waterfowl on North American flyways. Proper field identification involves consideration of a number of clues such as color, prominent markings, locale, feeding methods, takeoff style, wing beat and shape in flight.
Wetland
Time - 28:40 1987 VHS and 16mm
"Wetland" looks at prairie potholes, river floodplains, Pacific coast estuaries and Atlantic tidal flats. The film examines their value, productivity and valuable role in maintaining the health and economy of the land by recycling moisture, purifying water, and providing resources for recreation, agriculture and industry. Producer Robert Long's outstanding wildlife sequences capture the natural beauty and enjoyment wetlands offer. Exceptional scenes include a marshland sunrise, spawning salmon, foraging moose and a sandpiper "ballet".
Wetlands for Life
Time - 12:00 1997 VHS
Wetlands for Life chronicles the transformation of Alberta's ducks producing areas from the dustbowl days for the Great Depression to the wetland-dotted landscape it is today. The effort began in 1942 at Lake San Francisco, a single wetland in an ocean of prairie. Today, Ducks Unlimited is linking wetlands and uplands to create a true ecosystem approach to habitat conservation in one of the best wildlife-producing landscapes on the continent.
Wetlands for Life isn't just about Alberta and Ducks Unlimited. It's about conserving water - our most precious and most overlooked resource.
Wing of the Future
Time - 30:00 1970 16mm
This CBC film, produced for the "This Land" series, explores the problems facing waterfowl conservationists today as technology and development disrupt nature's balances in North America's marshes and wetlands.
Wood Ducks' World
Time - 31:00 1966 VHS and 16mm
Superb color photography makes this award-winning film about North America's most beautiful duck a delight to viewers of all ages. The camera follows a family of wood ducks from spring arrival through to fall migration. It provides an excellent conservation lesson for classroom and youth group use.
This special series deals with agricultural land management practices which offer mutual benefits to agriculture, waterfowl and wildlife, providing alternatives for conservation-minded prairie farmers. Graphic depiction of various practices help explain techniques and timing.
