U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - News Release

Oct. 25, 2006

WATERFOWL MIGRATION PROGRESSING; MORE BIRDS ARRIVING, SAYS USFWS

Large numbers of snow geese have moved into many parts of North Dakota in the past few days. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service observers report increases in other species, as well.

Flocks of snow geese arrived at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge just in time for GooseFest at nearby Kenmare. Refuge manager Dan Severson says the movement began last weekend, and about 60,000 snow geese were present at mid-week. More than 5,000 Canada geese, 20,000 mallards and 800 tundra swans were also occupying the Refuge. Severson reports warm daytime temperatures and the large numbers of birds help keep water open. He believes moderate weather expected for the next week should help keep waterfowl in the area.

Ducks, Canada geese, snow geese and sandhill cranes have been moving through northwestern North Dakota for the past week. Refuge manager Tim Kessler of the Crosby Wetland Management District reports about 20,000 snow geese near Crosby, but says they scatter in response to hunting pressure. He notes the same area is holding about 1,000 Canada geese and 500 diving ducks, but very few mallards.

Waterfowl remain hard to find in Mountrail County. Biologist Cory Lawson of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says all the wetlands have frozen over. He adds that Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge had 500 Canada geese, 500 mallards and 500 swans at mid-week.

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge has posted the largest numbers of snow geese this week. Biologist Duane Anderson says Lake Darling was holding about 100,000 snow geese at mid-week. However, he reports the duck population has dropped to 10,000 due to the freezing of wetlands and ponds. At mid-week, about 75 percent of Lake Darling had a thin covering of ice, but Anderson believes most of that will open up with warmer temperatures forecast for this weekend.

Low water levels and cold temperatures have combined to make J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge in north-central North Dakota unattractive for waterfowl. Assistant manager Gary Erickson says the Refuge has very little open water and virtually no waterfowl, although he has seen geese on larger wetlands to the east. He suggests hunters look for open water in Pierce and Rolette counties.

A major waterfowl movement through Ward, McLean and Sheridan counties began Saturday. Wetland manager Mike Goos of Audubon National Wildlife Refuge says bird numbers vary on a day-to-day basis, and only the largest wetlands have remained ice-free. At mid-week, the Refuge and surrounding area was holding up to 20,000 Canada geese, 5,000 snow geese and scattered bunches of 50-100 mallards. Goos reports groups of 500-1,000 geese on many of the larger lakes in the three counties.

The snow goose migration has moved into northeastern North Dakota. Biologist Cami Dixon of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says there are good numbers of snow geese throughout the area. She reports migrant Canada geese are also moving in, and plenty of diving ducks have arrived. However, Dixon notes little movement of mallards. She says corn harvesting has begun, and field hunters should have good opportunities.

Hunting opportunities remain available but limited in Kidder, Burleigh and Emmons counties. Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge project leader Paul Van Ningen says he has noticed a much greater movement of waterfowl into and through the area over the past week. He reports small concentrations of snow geese and white-fronted geese as well as additional migrant Canada geese. Van Ningen adds that more migrant ducks have also moved in, but hunting opportunities are limited because of the low number of wetlands holding water. He says most large, deep wetlands have diving ducks and the small, shallow wetlands that freeze each night attract some puddle ducks when they re-open.

Stutsman and Wells counties have yet to see much waterfowl migration. However, biologist Chris Flann of the Chase Lake Wetland Management District reports seeing some larger groups of scaup in southern Stutsman County, good concentrations of Canada geese in eastern Stutsman County and good numbers of sandhill cranes near the Stutsman-Kidder County line. Flann says the corn harvest is getting started, and that should help hold and concentrate waterfowl.

Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge has attracted a lot of waterfowl this week. Biologist Paulette Scherr says ice-free areas of the Refuge are holding 3,000 Canada geese, about 6,000 snow geese, 1,300 tundra swans and almost 20,000 ducks–most of which are mallards. She notes that feeding flocks of birds seem to be fairly small.

More snow geese are moving through southeast-central North Dakota. Mick Erickson, project leader of the Kulm Wetland Management District, also reports noticing a few tundra swans in the area. He says there are no large concentrations of ducks, although smaller flocks are scattered over the area, along with some flocks of Canada geese on the larger lakes.

Duck numbers are down but more geese have moved into east-central North Dakota. Ed Meendering, wetland manager for the Valley City Wetland Management District, says most of the remaining ducks are divers and mallards, although he has seen some gadwall. He has also noticed more migrant Canada geese, some small flocks of snow geese and more tundra swans.

The waterfowl migration is starting slowly in southeastern North Dakota. Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge biologist Kristine Askerooth says some snow geese, diving ducks, mallards and tundra swans are showing up, but no large numbers yet. She reports the corn crop is coming off slowly, and waterfowl are feeding in bean stubble.

Waterfowl populations have increased at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern South Dakota. Biologist Bill Schultze says snow goose numbers have jumped to 24,000 from 2,500 last week, the duck population has reached 125,000 and the Refuge now has 3,200 Canada geese and 700 tundra swans. He reports most of the ducks are mallards and green-winged teal, although the teal numbers are starting to drop.

Hunters pursuing waterfowl in North Dakota need to be aware of the "hunter’s choice" bag limit. The daily limit is five ducks, with these restrictions: two scaup, two redhead and two wood duck; and only one from the following group: hen mallard, pintail and canvasback. The "hunter’s choice" regulation is being tested in the Dakotas and three other states in the Central Flyway to see if it can reduce the harvest of affected birds with minimal restrictions on hunters.

Successful tundra swan hunters are urged to make their bird available for testing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. For more information, they should check the materials included with their swan license..

Hunters using Waterfowl Production Areas are reminded that motor vehicles may not be used off established roads or trails, and upland bird hunters using WPAs are restricted to nontoxic shot and must use shotguns capable of holding no more than three shells..

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. For more information, visit the Service’s website at www.fws.gov