Posted on Fri, Nov. 05, 2004
NORTH DAKOTA WATERFOWL UPDATE
Waterfowl finally have started moving out of Canada in larger numbers, with snow geese especially making their presence felt in North Dakota. The weekly report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also warns hunters that whooping cranes have been seen near New Salem and Berthold, N.D.
Here's a closer look at waterfowl numbers around the state:
• Devils Lake area: Northeastern North Dakota is noticing an increase in waterfowl numbers. Cami Dixon of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says northern Towner County and other northern portions of the area are showing the best numbers of snow geese. She says mallard hunters are still reporting good luck in Benson and Nelson counties, while Lake Alice and Devils Lake have attracted good numbers of diving ducks.
• Valley City area: Small groups of snow geese are being reported in southeastern Barnes and southwestern Cass counties. Kory Richardson of the Valley City Wetland Management District also is seeing groups of 150 to 200 lesser Canada geese scattered on various wetlands and in harvested fields. He adds that some diving ducks have moved into Hobart Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Valley City, as well as groups of 200 tundra swans.
• Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare, N.D.: The snow goose population has finally reached six figures. Refuge operations specialist Chad Zorn says most of the 100,000 snow geese arrived over the weekend. However, other waterfowl numbers have dropped. Zorn estimates the refuge is holding no more than 2,000 Canada geese and 10,000 ducks, most of which are mallards and pintails. He notes that mild weather has kept most potholes open.
• Southeast-central N.D.: More snow geese have been moving through the area. Bob Vanden Berge of the Kulm Wetland Management District reports seeing scattered groups of up to 5,000. He says most small wetlands have frozen over, but mallards especially have consolidated on a few of the larger ponds. Vanden Berge believes the mallard flow is slower than normal, but adds that the snow goose migration is surprisingly high. He says Canada geese are starting to disappear, even though some good remnants remain.
• Arrowwood NWR near Pingree, N.D.: The refuge is holding 2,500 Canada geese, about 1,000 each of snow geese and tundra swans, only 50 white-fronted geese and 20,000 ducks, nearly all mallards. Biologist Paulette Scherr says waterfowl numbers are good in eastern Foster and northeastern Stutsman counties. She adds that most of the larger wetlandshave good numbers of mallards and other duck species, and many have Canada geese. Scherr reported very few diving ducks.
• Lostwood Wetland Management District: Additional snow geese have reached Mountrail County. Todd Frerichs of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says numbers picked up over the weekend, but still are not huge. He adds that the bulk of the ducks have moved on, except for some mallards on larger wetlands. Frerichs notes that most sandhill cranes also have migrated out.
• Upper Souris NWR near Foxholm, N.D.: The refuge saw a large increase in the snow goose population last weekend. Deputy refuge manager Tom Pabian believes the refuge is holding up to 50,000 snow geese in several pockets. He notes that ducks and Canada geese also are scattered throughout the refuge.
• J. Clark Salyer NWR near Upham, N.D.: North-central North Dakota also saw a weekend influx of snow geese. J. Clark Salyer project leader Tedd Gutzke says the snows are distributed on the refuge and throughout the surrounding area. He adds that duck numbers have increased, but they don't seem to be congregating much. Gutzke notes that some sandhill cranes remain in the area, along with some Canada geese and white-fronted geese.
• Long Lake NWR near Moffit, N.D.: The refuge reports a big jump in its snow goose population, but decreases in duck numbers. Biologist Gregg Knutsen estimates the refuge has 25,000 snow geese, up to 1,000 white-fronted geese, and 8,500 Canada geese, but only 500 sandhill cranes. He says one cold night drove out many of the ducks that had been on the refuge. Knutsen suggests goose hunters try northern Burleigh and northern and central Kidder counties.
• Tewaukon NWR near Cayuga, N.D.: Hunters will still need to do their scouting to find birds in southeastern North Dakota. Tewaukon biologist Kristine Askerooth reports flocks of 3,000 to 4,000 mallards and gadwalls scattered throughout the area. She says very few snow geese have reached the refuge, but scattered flocks of 200 to 300 Canada geese are being reported, and a few bufflehead and ring-necked ducks have arrived.
NORTH DAKOTA WATERFOWL UPDATE
Waterfowl finally have started moving out of Canada in larger numbers, with snow geese especially making their presence felt in North Dakota. The weekly report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also warns hunters that whooping cranes have been seen near New Salem and Berthold, N.D.
Here's a closer look at waterfowl numbers around the state:
• Devils Lake area: Northeastern North Dakota is noticing an increase in waterfowl numbers. Cami Dixon of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says northern Towner County and other northern portions of the area are showing the best numbers of snow geese. She says mallard hunters are still reporting good luck in Benson and Nelson counties, while Lake Alice and Devils Lake have attracted good numbers of diving ducks.
• Valley City area: Small groups of snow geese are being reported in southeastern Barnes and southwestern Cass counties. Kory Richardson of the Valley City Wetland Management District also is seeing groups of 150 to 200 lesser Canada geese scattered on various wetlands and in harvested fields. He adds that some diving ducks have moved into Hobart Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Valley City, as well as groups of 200 tundra swans.
• Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare, N.D.: The snow goose population has finally reached six figures. Refuge operations specialist Chad Zorn says most of the 100,000 snow geese arrived over the weekend. However, other waterfowl numbers have dropped. Zorn estimates the refuge is holding no more than 2,000 Canada geese and 10,000 ducks, most of which are mallards and pintails. He notes that mild weather has kept most potholes open.
• Southeast-central N.D.: More snow geese have been moving through the area. Bob Vanden Berge of the Kulm Wetland Management District reports seeing scattered groups of up to 5,000. He says most small wetlands have frozen over, but mallards especially have consolidated on a few of the larger ponds. Vanden Berge believes the mallard flow is slower than normal, but adds that the snow goose migration is surprisingly high. He says Canada geese are starting to disappear, even though some good remnants remain.
• Arrowwood NWR near Pingree, N.D.: The refuge is holding 2,500 Canada geese, about 1,000 each of snow geese and tundra swans, only 50 white-fronted geese and 20,000 ducks, nearly all mallards. Biologist Paulette Scherr says waterfowl numbers are good in eastern Foster and northeastern Stutsman counties. She adds that most of the larger wetlandshave good numbers of mallards and other duck species, and many have Canada geese. Scherr reported very few diving ducks.
• Lostwood Wetland Management District: Additional snow geese have reached Mountrail County. Todd Frerichs of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says numbers picked up over the weekend, but still are not huge. He adds that the bulk of the ducks have moved on, except for some mallards on larger wetlands. Frerichs notes that most sandhill cranes also have migrated out.
• Upper Souris NWR near Foxholm, N.D.: The refuge saw a large increase in the snow goose population last weekend. Deputy refuge manager Tom Pabian believes the refuge is holding up to 50,000 snow geese in several pockets. He notes that ducks and Canada geese also are scattered throughout the refuge.
• J. Clark Salyer NWR near Upham, N.D.: North-central North Dakota also saw a weekend influx of snow geese. J. Clark Salyer project leader Tedd Gutzke says the snows are distributed on the refuge and throughout the surrounding area. He adds that duck numbers have increased, but they don't seem to be congregating much. Gutzke notes that some sandhill cranes remain in the area, along with some Canada geese and white-fronted geese.
• Long Lake NWR near Moffit, N.D.: The refuge reports a big jump in its snow goose population, but decreases in duck numbers. Biologist Gregg Knutsen estimates the refuge has 25,000 snow geese, up to 1,000 white-fronted geese, and 8,500 Canada geese, but only 500 sandhill cranes. He says one cold night drove out many of the ducks that had been on the refuge. Knutsen suggests goose hunters try northern Burleigh and northern and central Kidder counties.
• Tewaukon NWR near Cayuga, N.D.: Hunters will still need to do their scouting to find birds in southeastern North Dakota. Tewaukon biologist Kristine Askerooth reports flocks of 3,000 to 4,000 mallards and gadwalls scattered throughout the area. She says very few snow geese have reached the refuge, but scattered flocks of 200 to 300 Canada geese are being reported, and a few bufflehead and ring-necked ducks have arrived.
