USFWS Waterfowl Report - Oct 19, 2005

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

NEWS RELEASE

From: Ken Torkelson, USFWS (701-355-8528)
Date: Oct. 19, 2005


NOT MUCH CHANGE IN WATERFOWL NUMBERS, SAYS USFWS


Hunters in some parts of North Dakota are reporting small increases in waterfowl populations this week. However, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists believe most ducks and geese remain in Canada.

Waterfowl numbers seem to be holding steady at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare. Acting project leader Dan Severson says the Refuge has about 2,000 Canada geese, 600 snow geese, some 5,000 mallards plus pintails, shovelers and gadwalls. He notes that the Refuge is also holding about 1,000 tundra swans, easily the most in many years. Sandhill cranes continue to migrate through the area. Severson notes that fields have dried out from the recent snow and rain.

Mountrail County has quite a few sandhill cranes, but there have been recent reports of whooping cranes in the Stanley area. Cory Lawson of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says mallards are pocketed throughout the county, with some good concentrations. Hunters in central and southern parts of the county are finding both resident and migrant Canada geese, and tundra swans are present in many locations. Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge is holding up to 2,000 mallards, only a few Canada geese, no snow geese, about 300 tundra swans and quite a few sandhill cranes?especially on the southern part of the Refuge.

A few more ducks, geese, swans and sandhill cranes have reached northwestern North Dakota. Tim Kessler of the Crosby Wetland Management District says there has been no big movement of ducks or geese yet, but he has noticed a big sandhill crane migration. Kessler reports the area north of Noonan is holding about 2,000 ducks and several hundred Canada geese, while 1,000 ducks, 800 Canada geese and 200 snow geese have been seen south of Crosby.

Hunters continue to struggle to find birds in the area around Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge near Minot. Park ranger Shawn Tripp reports a good selection of ducks in the area, but no real numbers.

Waterfowl populations remain steady at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge near Coleharbor. Wetland manager Mike Goos estimates the Refuge is still holding about 5,000 Canada geese. He says the surrounding areas of McLean, Sheridan and Ward counties are holding below average numbers of waterfowl, after the storm moved local birds out. Goos believes wintry weather will be required to bring about any major movement.

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Moffit has lost quite a few of the sandhill cranes it had been holding. Biologist Gregg Knutsen says fewer than 2,000 remain. He notes there have been four confirmed sightings of whooping cranes in North Dakota this week. The Refuge is holding about 4,000 Canada geese? mostly migrants. Knutsen says very few snow geese are being seen in Kidder, Burleigh and Emmons counties, and virtually no ducks have arrived to replace those that left because of the wintry weather two weeks ago.

Waterfowl hunting continues to be slow in north-central North Dakota. Project leader Tedd Gutzke of J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge says there is a fair number of local ducks, but no large concentrations. The situation is similar for Canada geese, he notes. Gutzke says about 500 snow geese are scattered in various locations on the Refuge.

Northeastern North Dakota's waterfowl population hasn't changed much from last week. Jim Alfonso, deputy project leader of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District, says it will take a change in the weather before duck and goose numbers pick up, although there have been reports of more diving ducks reaching the larger bodies of water.

More waterfowl have reached Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge north of Jamestown. Biologist Paulette Scherr estimates the Refuge is holding about 6,000 Canada geese, more than 25,000 puddle ducks?including at least 20,000 mallards and 2,000 pintails, 500 diving ducks? mostly canvasbacks, and 525 tundra swans. Water conditions are deteriorating in the area north of the Refuge, so hunters will have to scout to find the birds.

Waterfowl populations are holding steady in Wells and Stutsman counties. Dave Bolin of the Chase Lake Prairie Project says he hasn't seen much change over the past week, except for the arrival of a few snow geese and lesser Canada geese, and the departure of some sandhill cranes. He says most of the area remains quite dry.

A few more ducks may be moving into southeast-central North Dakota. Mick Erickson of the Kulm Wetland Management District says the duck population is mostly mallards, gadwalls and pintails. Some flocks of resident Canada geese remain in the area, but no snow geese have arrived.

Hunting prospects may have improved slightly in the five-county Valley City Wetland Management District. Park ranger Ben Cleghorn reports the area has a good variety of ducks including divers. He says hunters in north-central Barnes County have been quite successful, but others are seeing good numbers of birds, too.

A few more diving ducks have reached southeastern North Dakota. In addition to the ringnecked ducks and scaup, some lesser Canada geese are showing up, and a few blue-winged teal remain, according to Jack Lalor, deputy Refuge manager at Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge. He says hunters will have to do their scouting, as the birds are very spread out.

Waterfowl are trickling in to Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern South Dakota. Biologist Bill Schultze reports more diving ducks are showing up, especially lesser scaup, redheads and canvasbacks and the first buffleheads of the fall. He says mallards still make up the majority of the 55,000 ducks on the Refuge, while gadwall and shoveler numbers may have dropped. The Refuge is still holding 2,000 Canada geese, but the tundra swan population has jumped from 320 last week to 950. No snow geese had arrived by mid-week.

Some hunters are failing to complete their paperwork. Law enforcement officers say they are encountering some hunters who have failed to sign their Federal Duck Stamp, and others who are not HIP-registered. Officers are warning duck hunters that they need to be able to identify their targets, as some flocks containing multiple species are being reported, and limits are different.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.