Tag: Waterfowl
The content below has been tagged with the term “Waterfowl.”
Articles
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A wood duck heads skyward after banding as Bill Ross watches. Photo by Mark Davis, USFWS.
Banded together
September 4, 2018 | 8 minute read
New Johnsonville, Tennessee — They gathered in a large group, more than 100. They didn’t know it yet, but they were about to help science. That began when Clayton Ferrell into their midst and selected one Aix sponsa – a wood duck. He held her with his left hand. His right grasped a set of needle-nose pliers. Something flashed in the sun — a small piece of aluminum, slightly curved, with a number engraved on it. Learn more...
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Lane, Mark and John Bowie at Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama. Lane is a sixth-grader who has gone hunting with his dad and grandpa since he was 7 years old. Photo by Phil Kloer, USFWS.
Making memories in a duck blind
February 12, 2018 | 7 minute read
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama – “Some of the best memories are made even if you don’t pull the trigger” is a saying that circulates among some hunters. At 4:30 a.m., 12-year-old Lane Bowie is scrunched in the backseat of his grandpa’s truck playing a video game on his phone, one that involves frantic thumb movements and never-ending explosions on the little screen. At about 4:30 a. Learn more...
News
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Waterfowl over ponds. Photo by Kathy Landini, USDA.
On eve of early waterfowl hunting season, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Merritt Island NWR urges caution related to Hurricane Irma damage
September 15, 2017 | 2 minute read
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today urged waterfowl hunters to use caution on the eve of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge’s early waterfowl season pointing to damage and access challenges in Hurricane Irma’s wake. The early waterfowl season is set to run from September 16 through September 24. The early teal season will be open as planned this year. Reaching some areas will be challenging. Hunters should expect high water levels, storm damage and submerged debris. Read the full story...
Podcasts
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Mallards taking flight. Photo by Tom Koerner, USFWS.
Duck populations
July 14, 2014 | 2 minute read
Transcript Greetings and welcome to the Southern Appalachian Creature Feature. Seeing redhead ducks in the local pond on my drive home from work is a little treat. Overall redheads aren’t rare ducks, but the Southern Appalachians are not a hotbed of duck activity and it’s nice to see some migrant ducks amidst the resident mallards that seem to dominate the local waterfowl scene. Duck populations have increased in overall abundance over last year, and their habitat conditions have improved, according to the U. Learn more...
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Sandhill cranes at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, AL. Photo by Tim Lumley, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
National Wildlife Refuge Week
November 6, 2009 | 2 minute read
Transcript Greetings and welcome to the Southern Appalachian Creature Feature. National Wildlife Refuge week is October 11-17. In the Southern Appalachians, where public lands are likely National Forests or National Park Service lands, it’s important to remember wildlife refuges, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for they are the only system of federal lands devoted to wildlife. Across the nation, there are 550 national wildlife refuges, protecting more than 150 million acres, more land than the entire national park system. Learn more...
Waterfowl
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Redhead ducks at Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Clayton Ferrell, USFWS.
Waterfowl in the Southeast Region
Every year as winter descends and temperatures drop, waterfowl migrate from northern breeding grounds to the southeastern United States. This journey can be hazardous and physically demanding. Just like humans taking a long road trip, ducks, geese, swans, and other waterbirds need places to rest and refuel on their journey and throughout the winter months. During the winter, almost 9 million ducks and geese can be found in the southeast. Learn more...
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Pennsylvania smartweed is a plant that is beneficial to waterfowl and can be found in moist-soil wetlands. Photo by Heath Hagy.
Primary habitat resources for waterfowl on Refuges in the Southeast
Moist-soil wetlands Managed moist-soil wetlands consist of natural vegetation dominated by plants that produce an abundance of seeds, such as grasses and sedges. These plants also provide essential nutrients for waterfowl that may not be found in other wetland types. Examples of desirable plants include wild millets, panic grasses, smartweeds, and flatsedges. Also, flooded moist-soil wetlands are home to an array of aquatic macroinvertebrates, an animal without a backbone that lives in water and can be seen without a microscope. Learn more...
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Two sportsmen enjoying a morning waterfowl hunt. Photo by Stacey Hayden, USFWS.
Public access
Hunting Waterfowl hunters are required to follow state and federal regulations when hunting on national wildlife refuges, including purchasing and carrying a Federal Duck Stamp. Duck Stamps are one of the most successful conservation tools ever created to protect habitat for migratory birds and help ensure abundant waterfowl populations in the future. Approximately 98% of the revenue generated by Duck Stamps goes directly to help acquire and protect wetlands. These wetlands in turn help purify water, aid in flood control, reduce soil erosion, and provide lots of other recreation opportunities. Learn more...
Wildlife
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American wigeon. Photo by Mike Wintroath, AGFC.
American wigeon
American wigeon are a medium-sized dabbling duck, and males have a distinctive white patch on their head that historically gave them the nickname “baldpate.” This species can be aggressive when competing for food and is a highly flexible forager, equally at home stealing food from diving ducks in deep water or grazing on turf grasses in urban areas. Conservation status Low concern. Range American wigeons occur across all four North American flyways, but they are most abundant in the Pacific and Central flyways. Visit the species profile...
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Black-bellied whistling duck. Photo by Stacey Hayden, USFWS.
Black-bellied whistling duck
The black-bellied whistling duck is sometimes described as part goose and part duck because of its rather peculiar physical features and behaviors. Like many goose species, black-bellied whistling ducks graze on grasses in upland areas, but they also nest in tree cavities similar to wood ducks. This species is highly gregarious, adaptable to using urban areas, and highly recognizable due to its pink bill and legs. Conservation Status Low concern. Visit the species profile...
