Louisiana 1839 1993 1870 2020
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2020 SPECIAL EDITION - Changes in Waterfowl Migratory Patterns WILDLIFE Louisiana INSIDER 1839 1870 1993 2020 These maps show a history of wetland loss as the marshes convert to open waters (green sections changing to light blue). - Maps courtesy of EPA Duck photos by (left and center) Joy Viola, Northeastern University, forestryimages.org and (right) Shutterstock.com LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS Louisiana, The Sportsman’s Paradise, or is it? An adult female white-fronted goose, whose long, elegant wings beat rhythmi- cally and strong through the air, creating the lift needed to keep her at the optimal Every year we reach out to hunters in an altitude, rides a southerly tail wind at 60 mph to her natal breeding grounds in the effort to determine harvests of game and satis- Arctic, a 3,500-mile migration. She had no emotion when the low- flying, offshore faction of the most recent season, seeking input bound, Bell Ranger helicopter forced her off the rice field in south Louisiana early of those willing to answer these surveys. I want on her last day of rest before her departure for the breeding grounds. She has no you to focus on the word “willing”, as it allows emotion over the industrial development, where she once stopped over in a grain you to voice your desires, concerns and levels of field to refuel, or the drained wetland where she roosted overnight on a previous satisfaction with the management of the wildlife journey. She just keeps flying. The reasons why the changes in the landscape she resources of Louisiana. passes over appear as they do, do not matter to her; stimulation for her flight comes You’ve most likely heard the term, “the instinctively. Her survival instinct drives her to nest and recruit more young into the squeaky wheel gets the grease”, well that has adult population. Her decision to winter in Louisiana will have an impact on her fit- some truth in how matters may work out at ness level to achieve that end goal. Will she have enough energy reserves to get to times. However, the staff at LDWF (technicians, her breeding grounds early enough to beat the competition for the best place to biologists, agents, assistants, etc…) work col- nest? Will she have a normal, viable clutch of eggs and the ability to incubate them laboratively to collect and review data on the and avoid predation? Will she or her young survive to return to Louisiana? Or, If she biological and physical aspects of the wildlife does survive the spring and summer ahead, then in the next fall on her southerly resources and their habitats in order to make migration, will she find a different wintering area further north, requiring less effort recommendations to the Louisiana Wildlife and and energy to reach, with greater food resources and less disturbance, thereby in- Fisheries Commission. Data collected and ana- creasing her odds for future reproductive success? These are a few of the questions lyzed by staff provide the basis for those recom- on waterfowl managers’ minds these days, and not just about white-fronted geese, mendations for seasons, rules and regulations but about most duck species as well. adjustments, with such recommendations made Migratory ducks and geese are among the most studied avian species in the to ensure the sustainable use of our wildlife re- world, yet mysteries remain. Is that what drives the passion of committed water- sources. fowl hunters? The sheer wonder and awe of birds that may fly non-stop from high latitudes in the north to the Gulf Coast marshes, with nothing but the energy and Willing. lean muscle mass of their streamlined bodies and an innate ability to navigate by the stars or dark landscape features thousands of feet below? Or, is it some unknown The following was part of a comment we mechanism that only God will ever know about? recently received during our Annual Hunter Har- Historically, Louisiana has been one of the top waterfowl harvest states in the vest Survey: “It has become increasingly chal- nation. Cameron parish alone could boast of harvests larger than even some other lenging to introduce new people and especially states’ entire harvest. For many of us, killing lots of ducks seemed to be our birth- young people to the sport of waterfowling as the right, and a large part of our culture. We took for granted that this would always be quality/success of these hunts appears to decline so, because after all, this is Louisiana, the Sportsman’s Paradise! Today this might not more each year. I know ldwf hears a bunch of always be the case. There are many reasons why, a few we can control, but many crying about this topic however it is extremely we cannot, such as climate change, global economic forces, political forces, human disheartening that ldwf does not seem to care, population, development and infrastructure, industry, agriculture and so on. provide any possible solutions, acknowledge the Southeast Louisiana has seen the greater majority of the 1.3 million acres of thousands of hunters having the same poor ex- marsh loss noted along Louisiana’s coast during modern times. Much of the rest of perience, or even attempt to provide evidence the fresher marsh types across the coastal zone often become choked with inva- otherwise.” That kind of cuts to the bone, but sive plant or animal species, greatly reducing their quality for waterfowl. The one it also shows us where we are failing to provide redeeming quality of a hurricane is its ability to open up these fresh marsh habitats the best possible customer service to the sports- again, setting back plant succession for a few years. men of our great state. LDWF’s operating budget has seen large reductions in recent years. However, I asked our staff to put together this Spe- our research programs are still involved in several waterfowl telemetry projects in cial Edition of the Wildlife Insider as a means to collaboration with private individuals, other states, Joint Ventures, universities and provide you insight into what is happening with Flyways. We anticipate these projects will shed light on trends in waterfowl ecology, our waterfowl and other migratory birds, here in migration and habitat use. Within this Special Edition Wildlife Insider, we hope to Louisiana and across the globe. The changes we provide some pertinent information for waterfowl hunters that may be interested are experiencing have many causes, many are in an answer to the question, “What has happened to our ducks?” We present, for beyond our direct means of control. Can you do your review, the landscape and environmental changes that are occurring in North anything about it? Absolutely! The simplest thing America and globally, affecting waterfowl migration and ultimately hunter success you can do is take time to review the papers we here at home. have put together for you in this document, un- We also focus on the need to collect valid data to estimate the number of hunt- derstand the real issues across the global land- ers and migratory bird harvests in Louisiana. LDWF is involved in a pilot project to scape, then work with us, allowing us to use our improve the Harvest Information Program (HIP) that will improve the ability of the time most prudently to address factors we can U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make those estimates from the hunter surveys and change for the good of the resource. parts collections in which many of you participate. I appreciate your time, and look forward to We hope you will enjoy this Special Edition Wildlife Insider. LDWF is grateful for continue discovering opportunities for us to im- your support and the wonderful wildlife resources we still have here to enjoy in The prove your ability to enjoy the tremendous mi- Sportsman’s Paradise! gratory bird resources we have in our state and nation. Scott Durham, Biologist Director Wildlife Division/Species and Research Programs Kenny Ribbeck, Chief Wildlife Division Jeff Duguay, Ph.D., Research and Survey Program Manager 2 Louisiana Wildlife Insider IN THIS ISSUE P.2 Letters From the Editors P.3 From Decoys to Duck Leases, Waterfowl Hunting is Big Business in Louisiana by Trey Iles and Scott Durham P.5 Duck Dilemma by Trey Iles and Larry Reynolds P.10 Are Waterfowl Migrations Changing? by Tom Moorman, Ph.D. P.13 Declining Waves of Geese by Larry Reynolds P.16 The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck: Irruption? by Paul Link P.18 Louisiana Mottled Duck Update Photo by Shutterstock.com by Scott Durham P.22 Migration Alteration From Decoys to Duck by Trey Iles Leases, Waterfowl Hunting P.24 Species’ Range and Range Shifts by Jason Olszak is Big Business in Louisiana BY TREY ILES, LDWF Public Information P.29 Distribution Shift Across the SCOTT DURHAM, LDWF Director - Research & Species Management Pond by Larry Reynolds Waterfowl hunting in Louisiana is an Act of 1937, Pittman-Robertson generates enjoyable pastime that tens of thousands revenue from excise taxes on firearms, am- P.30 Using Emerging Technology of state citizens and non-residents take part munition, and archery equipment which to Better Understand Waterfowl in each year. But, it is also an important are apportioned to state wildlife agencies Movements business on which many people rely. for their wildlife conservation efforts and by Paul Link Waterfowl hunting is linked to more hunter education programs. than 1,000 jobs in Louisiana, and waterfowl Nationally, waterfowl hunters spend hunters spend money that, according to about $958 each per season, according to P.32 Estimating Waterfowl Harvest in estimates, results in $4.3 million in annual the U.S.