Conservation Summary Colorado is part of the Central and Pacifi c Flyways and provides important nesting and migra- tion habitat for waterfowl that are produced there and in the .

The eastern plains of Colorado, particularly the South Platte River corridor, are a prime example of the state’s top-quality migration habitat. Ducks Unlimited’s efforts in this region focus on restoring and protecting shallow habitats along river corridors. These key stop-over sites provide much needed foraging and loafi ng areas for migrating birds, as well as wintering habitat for such important species as mallard and Canada geese.

Ducks Unlimited is also focusing its restoration and protection work on key areas across the Rocky Mountain range that contain the highest quality wetland habitats and concentrations of waterfowl.

Wetlands in the San Luis Valley and North Park provide critical migration and wintering stop-over points for Central and Pacifi c Flyway ducks, sandhill cranes, water birds and shorebirds. The area is also among the most productive breeding habitats in for numerous duck and colonial wading bird species.

Your support of DU will help us achieve our goals in Colorado! (www.co.ducks.org)

DU’s Work in Colorado Recent mapping efforts have revealed a great success story of conservation along the South Platte River. Ducks Unlimited (DU) has worked with other conser- vation groups to protect nearly 34 miles of contiguous river corridor between Sterling and Sedgwick, Colo- rado. The South Platte River is an in a semi-arid Public Policy Update climate, offering habitat to over 75 percent of the FARM BILL - The 2007 Farm Bill will be vital to DU’s birds found in Colorado. Protection efforts include conservation mission. DU is promoting conservation several state-owned wildlife areas, conservation programs that benefi t waterfowl habitat. DU is working easements held by DU and several miles of hard with Congress, the administration and other Reserve Program (WRP) easements. conservation leaders, as well as private landowners, farmers and ranchers to ensure that key conservation As a leader in , DU has worked provisions are maintained in the 2007 Farm Bill. We diligently with other conservation organizations along must support programs like the Conservation Reserve the South Platte River for the past seven years. In Program (CRP) and (WRP) addition to restoring public access land and holding that improve farmland and waterfowl habitat. To conservation easements, DU volunteers took action at learn how you can help ducks in the Farm Bill, go to: the national level to assure the WRP remained strong http://www.ducks.org/2007FarmBill/ in the Farm Bill. Colorado Conservation 2006

Grasslands for Tomorrow Initiative Grasslands for Tomorrow targets the best-of-the-best remaining duck breeding habitat in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region. DU has pledged to perpetually protect 2 million acres of native prairie in the Dakotas and Montana. During FY05, DU protected 39,302 acres toward this goal. Perpetual protection is achieved through purchased grassland and wetland easements, land purchases and donated conservation easements. DU COLORADO GRASSROOTS & CONSERVATION: 2001-2005 Canada’s Prairie Pothole Region $$1,988,7751,988,775 Grasslands have been decimated, and changing land use 2,500,000 has reduced the amount of duck nests hatched on fallow -Year cropland. These losses have had dire effects on waterfowl, 2,000,000 Average Conservation especially pintail. In key pintail Expenditure landscapes, DU Canada is focused 1,500,000 Actual on protecting shallow wetlands, converting marginal cropland 1,000,000 back to pasture and encouraging adoption of duck- friendly crops, such as winter wheat. 500,000 -Year Avg. Conservation 250,000 Expenditure Minimum Goal Important News Conservation Expernditures ($) Avian Infl uenza has been in the news recently. Typically, 100,000 $$64,51264,512 about 5-10 percent of waterfowl may carry some strain of the Avian infl uenza virus. However, the strain in the news, Asian H5N1, has not been documented in North DU’s conservation expenditure goal America through monitoring efforts. For more informa- for each state is to spend a minimum tion, please visit: www.ducks.org/birdfl u of 7.5% of total grassroots income raised in that state on a 5-year average. Here’s how we are doing in Colorado.

A GLOBAL LEADER IN WETLAND, WATERFOWL AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

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