Where Texas’ Ducks Get Their Start

When waterfowl start heading south this fall, millions will funnel into Texas’ wetlands to spend the winter or rest prior to migrating farther south to Mexico, Central or South America. But where do Texas’ ducks get their start? According to band return data gathered largely from waterfowl hunters, most banded ducks reported from Texas originated in the famous Prairie Pothole Region of the Northern U.S. and Canada.

Ducks Unlimited charted band return data from 1990 to 2000 for all duck species banded north of Texas during the breeding season, and then identified the top five duck production areas for the state. Of the 5,403 duck bands reported in Texas, 37 percent were banded in Saskatchewan, 19 percent in Alberta, 6 percent in Manitoba, 5 percent in North Dakota, and 5 percent in Montana. Mallards represented the majority (41%) of banded birds harvested in Texas. Blue-winged teal (16%), wood ducks (12%), and pintails (10%) were the next closest species. It quickly becomes apparent how important mallards, blue-winged teal and wood ducks are to Texas’ duck hunters when over 69% percent of band recoveries come from these three species.

Which counties produced the most banded ducks? Just about every county in Texas produced at least 1 band recovery. However, the counties located along the Texas coast reported the most band recoveries. The top five counties were 1) Jefferson, 2) Fort Bend, 3) Wharton, 4) Calhoun and 5) Chambers. It’s no surprise that these coastal counties harvested the most banded ducks. Habitat is the key. These counties have abundant, high quality duck habitat in the form of flooded agricultural fields (i.e., rice fields), moist-soil wetlands, coastal marshes, and submerged aquatic vegetation. When conditions are right, these areas will hold large numbers of wintering mallards, pintails and teal, thus providing outstanding waterfowl hunting opportunities.

DU's Chief Biologist, Dr. Bruce Batt, points out that, "these data provide a simple way to check where birds shot in Texas were banded. This gives us a pretty good idea that most of these birds spent the breeding season in the very areas where DU does most of its conservation work for waterfowl production."

Ducks Unlimited’s work in the Prairie Pothole Region is as diverse as the waterfowl that breed there. Aside from restoring, enhancing, and managing wetlands and associated uplands, DU works with landowners to secure conservation easements, and encourages farmers to plant winter wheat, which doesn’t require tilling during the prime waterfowl breeding season. DU also works to support sound government policies, such as the Conservation Reserve Program in the U.S., and a new conservation cover program developed with Agriculture Canada.

From a strategic standpoint, habitat conservation work is straightforward. The highest priority must be on protection of the existing areas where recruitment levels exceed population maintenance levels within the Prairie Pothole Region. Because these “source” areas are the strongholds for duck populations, they must be protected to ensure the population levels achieved during the recent wet period on the prairies continue to be achieved in the future. After all, the habitat base that we had in place during the mid to late 90’s produced bumper crops of ducks.

“Habitat conditions and resulting duck production on the prairies is vital to waterfowling opportunities in Texas,” says Ed Ritter, Director of Conservation Programs for DU’s Field Office in Richmond, TX. “Ducks Unlimited focuses a significant amount of time, effort, and Texas-generated dollars on the conservation of wetland and grassland complexes on the prairies. When good water conditions occur there, it’s one of the most productive areas on the continent in terms of producing ducks that will visit Texas each fall and winter.”

According to reports by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, habitat conditions across most of the prairies in 2003 were much improved over the last 2-3 years, thanks largely to late spring precipitation. DU biologists in the field confirm that many areas of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta have improved substantially over the last year.

“Of course, everything is contingent upon weather,” says Ritter. “Ultimately, weather and habitat conditions will determine how many birds migrate to Texas each fall. But according to our friends in Canada, production has been good.”

Les McLean, DU Canada’s Head of Conservation Programs in its Saskatchewan Parkland Field Office reports, “In southern Saskatchewan, we had good wet conditions early on, so that area should have pretty good duck numbers, and some surveys have shown very good pintail numbers. When we get into the northern areas, conditions are very dry. Our wetland numbers there are definitely down. Overall, I’d expect production to be lower in the north, and higher in the south.”

In Manitoba, DU Canada’s Head of Conservation Program for Manitoba, Rick Andrews, says the province’s habitat is generally fair to good. “We started off with not too bad of habitat conditions, but since the first of June we’ve had a fairly dry spell. However, the guys in the field are saying we have adequate water in the fields of southwest Manitoba and they’re seeing a large number of broods. Overall, I’d expect fair to good production out of Manitoba this year.”

In Alberta, Brett Calverly, Regional Coordinator for the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in DU Canada’s Prairie Region says, “Generally speaking, habitat conditions in Alberta are much improved over last year, with significantly more winter and spring precipitation. But, we are trying to recover from a significant drought, and this precipitation didn’t fill all our potholes. We have good habitat conditions in the Peace Parklands, the western portion of the Aspen Parklands, and throughout the prairie. The only place below normal will be the eastern portion of the Aspen Parklands, but overall things are absolutely looking up.”

As duck season quickly approaches, Texas hunters should keep in mind that mother-nature ultimately controls the fall migration of waterfowl. As temperatures drop in the Northern Great Plains, ice will form on shallow ponds and snow will cover exposed agricultural fields. When these conditions exist, mallards will migrate to warmer climates where they can find food, water and shelter.

Who knows, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to harvest a banded drake mallard this year. If so, you can report the band information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by calling a toll-free number (1-800-327-BAND). You’ll receive a certificate of appreciation in the mail that identifies the sex, age and banding location of your bird. Odds are it was banded in the famous Prairie Pothole Region of Southern Canada!

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Texas Habitat Projects

Gulf Coastal Prairies Public Lands Projects J.D. Murphree WMA Peach Point WMA Mad Island WMA Guadalupe Delta WMA Estero Llano Grande State Park Private Lands Program Texas Prairie Wetlands Project Southern Great Plains Public Lands Projects Taylor Lakes WMA Buffalo Lake NWR Gene Howe WMA Playa Lakes WMA

West Gulf Coastal Plain Public Lands Projects North Toledo Bend WMA Alazan Bayou WMA Old Sabine Bottom WMA Gus Engeling WMA Keechi Creek WMA Richland Creek WMA Big Lake Bottom WMA Private Lands Program East Texas Wetlands Project Texas WRP 1990-2000 Band Recovery Map Large   XLarge