Monitoring, Research
As befitting its establishment in 1980 as a “duck refuge,” Kanuti staff have a long history of monitoring the ducks, geese, and swans breeding on the Refuge. Annual waterfowl efforts now include separate aerial surveys monitoring the Refuge’s breeding scaup and scoters, as well as its mid-continent Greater White-fronted Goose population. These surveys address recognized historical declines of these birds. Non-annual surveys include an aerial census of all swans (mostly Trumpeter) on the Refuge every five years, as well as an intensive aerial waterbird breeding pair survey conducted every 10 years by our Migratory Bird Management colleagues to update the status of Kanuti's dabbling duck populations.
