North Dakota Game and Fish complete annual breeding duck survey

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – State waterfowl biologists simply accomplished their annual breeding duck survey.

This yr marks the seventy fifth anniversary of the statewide breeding duck survey in North Dakota.

“We conduct a survey yearly throughout North Dakota in concerning the center of Might the place we depend our breeding geese within the state, and in addition their wetland habitats. We conduct the survey utilizing two particular person crews and we run on eight transects that run north and south throughout your entire state, totaling slightly over 1800 miles,” stated NDGF waterfowl biologist Mike Szymanski.

When biologists pull up subsequent to a wetland the work begins.

“So we’re counting the entire wetlands by sort and the entire geese and their social teams and Canada geese and coots which can be inside 220 yards all sides of the highway,” stated Szymanski.

Climate patterns also can play a serious position from yr to yr on what biologists see and depend on their surveys.

“This yr was a fairly fascinating yr. I imply, we’ve been simply whipsawed forwards and backwards between moist and dry situations. So we really had our second highest wetland index within the state, which is essentially made up of water that’ll dry up pretty shortly. However we additionally had a fairly robust duck quantity, simply wanting $3.4 million, which is our twenty third highest duck index,” stated Szymanski.

Szymanski says the info collected from the breeding duck survey is efficacious in managing our state’s waterfowl.

“We use it to information our conservation efforts, assist us get an understanding of how geese are distributing throughout the state, after which additionally convey that info for hunters and the way they need to plan their actions for the yr,” stated Szymanski.

It’s slightly early to foretell what waterfowl hunters can count on for the autumn looking season, however issues look to be on course.

“Rather a lot can positive change between Might and September and moving into early October. So we’ll get a couple of extra counts in our July brood surveys, our fall wetland depend. However issues ought to be slightly bit higher this yr. We in fact have plenty of Canada geese once more, however duck manufacturing ought to be slightly bit higher,” stated Szymanski.

For extra info on the Breeding Duck Survey, go to gf.nd.gov

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