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11/15/2006
Waterfowl conditions only
slightly better than last year, biologists say
|
 LITTLE
ROCK -
Recent warm
temperatures and drought-like conditions haven't helped forecasts for
Arkansas' upcoming waterfowl season. Biologists from the Arkansas Game
and Fish Commission recently completed their aerial surveys of waterfowl
numbers and conditions. What they saw doesn't bode well for Arkansas'
season opener on Nov. 18.
AGFC waterfowl program coordinator Luke Naylor said that biologists
conducted the aerial waterfowl surveys Nov. 7-13. "Habitat conditions
across the state were slightly improved from last year, but portions of
the state remain extremely dry. There is an abundance of flooded habitat
in the Arkansas River Valley and water levels are very high in the
northeast," Naylor said. "However, habitat conditions were dry in the
eastcentral region, slightly below average in the southeast and dry in
the southwest," he explained.
Naylor said a wet October led to excellent habitat conditions in the
northeast, but rainfall did not appear to have been of sufficient
duration and intensity to flood large amounts of habitat, particularly
on the state's wildlife management areas, in the balance of the state.
"Recent rains should make pumping of fields less costly, and farmers in
the southwest and southeast were actively flooding fields during the
survey period," he stated.
 The
numbers of waterfowl counted during this survey were much higher than
last year, but still well below the long-term average. The statewide
total duck count of 285,187 represents a 78 percent increase from last
year’s count of 159,905, but the number remains well below the 1985–2006
November survey average of 579,224.
The mallard count of 106,823 is a 147 percent increase from last
November’s count of 43,085 but, like total duck numbers, remains well
below the long-term average of 282,611. "It is interesting to note that
about 75 percent of the mallards observed during this survey were
counted in northeast Arkansas where the greatest amount of habitat is
available," Naylor said.
Breeding grounds estimates for gadwalls were very high this year and
Arkansas' survey data appears to match the increased numbers. Gadwall
numbers (90,210) approached that of mallards and were nearly twice as
high as last year’s 52,512 bird total. Snow goose numbers (332,850, up
from 61,175 last year) were extremely high this year with large
concentrations of birds observed on flooded fields in the northeast and
southeast regions. Numbers of white-fronted geese were up slightly,
totaling 31,905 compared to last year’s estimate of 21,105.
Naylor pointed out that the aerial waterfowl surveys are used to
estimate numbers of ducks and geese using regions of Arkansas and the
status of migrations and habitat conditions. "These surveys add to the
long-term information base that biologists use to manage wetlands and
establish hunting seasons. Our periodic surveys serve as an index to
migrations and waterfowl numbers, but do not necessarily reflect the
patterns of bird use or hunting prospects," he said.
The survey results give a good general idea about waterfowl numbers and
conditions, but hunters should pay more attention to near-term reports
on weather, habitat and hunting success to guide their specific hunting
plans, Naylor explained. More specific WMA reports are available weekly
on the Duck Hotline Number (800) 440-1477 or on the AGFC website
www.agfc.com. |
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