Conservation work never stops, even in winter

As the temperatures drop and snow blankets the land, you might assume that nature’s rhythms have hit pause. But our conservation work never stops, even in winter. We’re committed to innovative solutions that go beyond the seasons. Take, for instance, our support for Prairie Canada winter wheat, a vital resource for nesting ducks in spring.

Research and monitoring programs regularly include winter programs, and we regularly conduct habitat projects in the winter when activities have less impact on the soil, vegetation and wildlife. Our proactive approach includes taking necessary precautions and planning out the work zone during warmer seasons with wildlife and their winter habitats in mind.

Winter is not a time of inactivity; it’s a season of progress and restoration for the natural world.

Winter wheat: Supporting nesting ducks in spring

Ducks Unlimited Canada offers financial incentives to Prairie Canada farmers seeding winter wheat, along with on-farm agronomic support throughout the growing season. Experienced growers prefer the improved soil-health benefits and high-yield potential of the crop. Our research shows that ducks nesting in winter wheat are 24 times more productive than ducks nesting in spring-sown cereals.  This is because field operations on farms are greatly reduced during peak nesting periods in the spring due to the fall-seeding nature of winter wheat.

Related stories:

• Ducks love to nest in winter wheat
• Duck-friendly winter wheat becomes a top cash crop in Manitoba
• Winter wheat surge in Manitoba

Construction care: Avoiding harm to habitat

Ducks Unlimited Canada schedules habitat restoration and construction in winter if the environment is vulnerable to harm in other seasons. When work is done in the coldest months, there are less wildlife in the habitat and the frozen ground resists damage from equipment or access vehicles.

Scouting the project in autumn helps to identify necessary precautions such as exclusion fences to prevent turtles from coming into the work zone for hibernation.