North American Snow Goose Populations

Snow Geese

Populations of snow geese, blue geese, and Ross’s geese in North America, collectively referred to as “light geese,” have grown to record levels over the past three decades, according to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

USFWS biologists theorize that the overabundance of light geese is harming arctic tundra breeding habitat, which could have negative impacts on light geese and other bird species that depend on these areas.

Since 2009 hunters have had the opportunity to pursue snow geese during the spring as a result of a special management action referred to as a “Conservation Order” allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The measure was adopted at the recommendation of federal and state wildlife scientists in response to concerns about a growing number of snow geese across North America.

Eight states in the Atlantic Flyway (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Vermont) will hold a Spring Snow Goose Conservation Order in 2014.

source: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Michigan Lake Sturgeon Restoration

More than 5,000 lake sturgeon were stocked by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) during the agency's fall
2013 fish stocking season.

In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit stocked 50 fingerling lake sturgeon into the Kalamazoo River.

The Marquette Fisheries Research Station stocked a total of 598 fingerling lake sturgeon into four sites in the Upper Peninsula.

The DNR's cooperative hatchery with Michigan State University stocked 4,490 fingerling lake sturgeon into Black, Burt and Mullet lakes.

For more information, visit www.michigandnr.com.

source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

2013 National Wildlife Refuge Week Events

A wide range of events will be held in national wildlife refuges across the USA during National Wildlife Refuge Week 2013 (October 13-19).

A few of the events planned include:

Saturday, October 12:

Habitat Restoration Display, Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, Jameson Island Unit, MO

Ding Darling Day, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, IA

Log Cabin Day Festival, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, IN

14th Annual Trinity River Butterfly Count, Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, TX

5K Run/Walk for Wildlife, Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, Mayville, WI

Jr. Duck Waterfowl Hike, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, WI

Volunteer Work Day, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, MO

Halloween Adventure, Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, ND

The Big Sit! St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, FL

The Big Sit! Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, MO



Sunday, October 13:

Open House, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, MO

“Go Wild,” Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, VA

Habitat Restoration Display, Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, Jameson Island Unit, MO

The Big Sit! Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, MO

The Big Sit! Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, TX

The Big Sit! Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, IN

The Big Sit! John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, PA


Saturday, October 19

Wildlife Festival, Patuxent Research Refuge, MD

River Paddle Ride, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, MO

Open House, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, MO

Open House, Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge, IL


Sunday, October 20

Open House, Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, MO


Sunday, October 13 through Saturday, October 19:

Open House, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, IN
The normally closed “waterfowl sanctuary” area will be open to walk-in visitors during Refuge Week.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USFWS Report - 2013 Trends in Duck Breeding Populations

Although many species of North American ducks declined in numbers from 2012, populations are in good condition, according to a recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) study.

The preliminary estimate of total duck populations provided in the 2013 Trends in Duck Breeding Populations report was 45.6 million birds.

The report provides estimated survey data from north-central United States, south-central and northern Canada, and Alaska. The total duck estimate excludes scoters, eiders, long-tailed ducks, mergansers and wood ducks.

Report Highlights:

mallard estimated abundance is 10.4 million birds

Blue-winged teal estimated abundance is 7.7 million

Green-winged teal estimated abundance is 3.1 million

Northern pintail estimated abundance is 3.3 million

Estimated abundance of American wigeon is 2.6 million

Combined lesser and greater scaup estimated abundance is 4.2 million

Canvasback estimated abundance is 787,000

The surveys are conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Services’ Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, sampling more than 2 million square miles of waterfowl habitat across Alaska, the north-central and northeastern United States and south-central, eastern and northern Canada. Information is not included from surveys conducted by state or provincial agencies.

The annual survey guides the Service’s waterfowl conservation programs under authority of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Service works in partnership with state biologists from the four flyways – the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific – to establish regulatory frameworks for waterfowl hunting season lengths, dates and bag limits.

For more information about the surveyed areas, the survey methodology and the estimates, the Trends Report in Duck Breeding Populations, 1955-2013 report can be downloaded from the Service's Web site at www.fws.gov/migratorybirds.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service