western region ( Prairie/ Boreal ) Yukon • Northwest Territories • Nunavut • Alberta • Saskatchewan • Manitoba
volume 31, number 4, 2010
Solving one of the last great waterfowl mysteries
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As the survey plane dropped down for the post-breeding waterfowl counts on Cardinal Lake in 2004, the Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) biologists on board did not realize they would be helping to solve one of the great waterfowl mysteries in North America: What happens to the Barrow’s goldeneyes after the breeding season? The Barrow’s goldeneyes have a very limited distribution and the world population is estimated at only 200,000 birds. The biologists knew once the young birds were old enough to travel, these cavity-nesting sea ducks would be looking for a suitable area to moult and rebuild their energy before heading out on their fall migration. The location of these sites, particularly for the primary breeding population in B.C., has long puzzled biologists. What the researchers found at Cardinal Lake excited them. Jonathan Thompson is DUC’s regional research biologist in the area and is leading the research at Cardinal Lake. He says DUC’s extensive surveys of Boreal Transition Zone wetlands in Alberta and B.C. revealed a number of sites used by post-breeding Barrow’s goldeneyes, but none more important than Cardinal Lake in northwestern Alberta. “This large, shallow and productive lake provides breeding, moulting and staging habitat for a myriad of waterfowl and other aquatic birds,” says Thompson. “Most significantly, it provides post-breeding habitat for up to 7,000 Barrow’s goldeneyes, placing it among the most important habitats on the continent for this relatively uncommon species of duck.” Many Barrow’s goldeneyes spend up to four months, or a third of their annual cycle, on the lake. During this period, goldeneyes complete most of their two annual plumage moults from June through ice-up, including replacement of their flight feathers over a three- to four-week flightless period in August.
DUC biologists collect data on Barrow’s goldeneyes at Cardinal Lake in northwestern Alberta.
To better understand the importance of Cardinal Lake to Barrow’s goldeneyes, DUC initiated a large collaborative research project in 2009, which is continuing this year. This research partnership, which includes biologists from DUC, the Centre for Wildlife Ecology at Simon Fraser University, and Environment Canada, is investigating an array of topics that will lead to clear recommendations on ways to protect and conserve this unique wetland and its large concentrations of post-breeding goldeneyes and other waterfowl. S
western region (prairie/boreal)
New book includes many favourite waterfowl sites and DUC projects
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Whether you are yearning to get out and explore Manitoba’s fascinating and awe-inspiring wild places or simply hankering for a good read, you are bound to enjoy Manitoba’s newest nature book. Manitoba Wild is a beautifully illustrated and colourful new book showcasing our finest, yet unheralded, places. Manitoba Wild is written by Bill Stilwell, the award-winning author of two previous national bestsellers – Manitoba Naturally and Scenic Secrets of Manitoba. It features interesting places in every corner of the province. The book describes amazing places including two Ducks Unlimited Canada projects – Alexander Marsh and Big Grass Marsh near Gladstone, which was DUC’s first project in Canada. Alexander Marsh is located between Alexander and Griswold. While it is only a short distance from the Trans-Canada Highway, this highly productive wetland lies in virtual obscurity. Nearly every species of duck and shorebird common across southwestern Manitoba may be found at Alexander Marsh during the nesting and migration periods, making this one of the region’s best wildlife viewing destinations. Recently, a rare white-faced ibis was spotted wading in the shallows. Less common species observed here include the snowy egret, great egret and cattle egret. The book is an interesting read from cover to cover and suitable for people from all walks of life. It appeals to people who like to read about the outdoors as well as those who like vigorous outdoor activities. Whether you are a serious naturalist or are just getting interested in nature, you will learn something new in these pages. To purchase your own copy of Manitoba Wild, visit www.manitobawild.com or call 204-476-5210. You can also order by email at manitobawild@mts.net. S
Saskatoon project receives donation
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The Hyde Wetlands in Saskatoon are receiving a financial boost thanks to the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation. The organization presented $10,000 to Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) recently as part of its ongoing $100,000 commitment to the Hyde Wetlands. The money is going toward the conservation of the area and the development of interpretive trails and signs around the Hyde Wetlands for the education of visitors. “This project is a special place and a great environmental gift of habitat to wildlife and the local community,” says Dr. Michael Hill, head of wetland restoration with DUC. “We’ve been working on this project with SWF and the City of Saskatoon for the past few years and it is a pleasure to see children using this beautiful space as an outdoor classroom.” Hill says the Hyde Wetlands are looked upon as a model for urban space planning in Canada. In total, five wetlands and 237 acres of green space were protected from nearby urban development.
The largest of the wetlands is being developed as an education destination for classes from Saskatoon and the surrounding area. The site is being developed in conjunction with the City of Saskatoon and with the help of SWF’s generous donation. DUC has educational projects planned for the Hyde Wetlands. This summer, “The Wild Life,” a summer youth camp, visited the wetlands. The group learned about the environment through Project Webfoot, DUC’s education program. For nearly 70 years, DUC has worked to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. Only through the support of individuals and conservation partners like the SWF is DUC able to achieve its conservation goals. “The Hyde Wetlands is a shining example of what can be achieved when organizations work together to conserve critical waterfowl habitat,” says Hill. S
Tennessee volunteers Members of the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, from Nashville, Tenn., demonstrate bird banding as part of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Greenwing Day in Yorkton recently. The group of researchers from the U.S. was in Saskatchewan to band ducks to provide valuable information about waterfowl migration.
British birders discover Manitoba gem
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Many Britons picture Manitoba as being the home of polar bears in Churchill. Cal Cuthbert wants to change that perception. So he and members of Travel Manitoba went to the United Kingdom for the three-day British BirdFair. “We wanted to let overseas folks know that Manitoba is a great place for birders,” says Cuthbert, a Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) conservation employee and the Brandon office’s birding go-to guy. “Europeans know about Toronto and Vancouver but unfortunately often not much more in between.” BirdFair, held annually in Rutland county in mid-August, is the world’s largest international bird-watching event. Cuthbert explains it’s a birder’s equivalent of Woodstock. “It’s outside and there are tents everywhere with workshops and information about birding and birding products that people are selling. The festival itself attracts in excess of 23,000 annually,” he says. Cuthbert was invited to the annual event by Manitoba Tourism. As a volunteer birding ambassador, his role was to talk with the participants, answer detailed birding questions and generally promote birding and wildlife viewing in Manitoba. With three migration flyways passing through the province, Manitoba has recorded nearly 400 species of birds. The province’s diverse landscape, which includes boreal forest, remnant mixed grass prairie, rolling parkland, large lakes and abundant wetlands, make it an ideal breeding spot for many species of birds. “We have Riding Mountain where you can see great grey owls and a myriad of warblers and other songbirds,” says Cuthbert. “And in less than two hours, you can be in an area where grassland specialty birds are found.”
Cuthbert says this is the information that many of the BirdFair participants liked hearing. He also found many of the people at the event had never heard of Ducks Unlimited Canada. While Cuthbert wasn’t there to represent the conservation organization, he took time to share bird-watching hotspots like Oak Hammock Marsh and other DUC projects such as Whitewater Lake and the Minnedosa pothole country. “It’s almost impossible to not mention DUC when discussing habitat variety and the importance of habitats for birds,” says Cuthbert. S
western region (prairie/boreal)
Conservationist honoured, marshland dedicated to education
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A recently completed project in Yorkton, Sask., will help educate students and adults about the importance of wetlands and the wildlife that lives there. The Harris Conservation Project is located next to the Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) Yorkton office, and is a productive marshland that can be viewed by walking the interpretive trails, boardwalks and observation areas. It was named after Don Harris, a longtime conservationist and DUC supporter in the Yorkton area. “The Harris Conservation Project is a great example of why passionate volunteers like Don have been such strong supporters of DUC for so many years,” says Trevor Plews, DUC’s head of upland restoration in Saskatchewan. “This important wetland has many visitors each year and serves as an outdoor classroom for people of all ages. Don has given so much to DUC and this is our tribute to his lifelong service to waterfowl and wetland conservation.” Plews is quick to point out that while the marsh is close to the city, it is also home to an abundance of waterfowl species including mallard, blue-winged teal, northern shoveller, pintail, canvasback and lesser scaup. Other wildlife, including whitetailed deer, mule deer and numerous species of songbirds,
also benefit from the habitat this project provides. The trail, boardwalks and observation areas will help the hundreds of local students expected each year to get close to nature. “I’m very honoured, but I’m also very proud that this special place will be here in Yorkton for a long, long time, thanks to our efforts. This one is close to home for our volunteers. These efforts enable our team of volunteers to see the direct results of our work, right here, in our own backyard,” says Don Harris. Don and the Yorkton DUC chapter have played an active role in raising the funds for project improvements to the boardwalk, trail and observation areas and the wetland itself. Once the Harris Conservation Project was completed, this energetic group of volunteers kept working, raising additional funding for similar wetland projects in need throughout the Yorkton area. S
A large group of the Harris family and friends were on hand to honour Don Harris, the longtime conservationist and Ducks Unlimited Canada volunteer from Yorkton. The group officially unveiled a cairn opening the Harris Conservation Project in the community.
Saskatchewan ranchers receive award
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Two modest farmers from Moosomin, Sask., are being recognized for their environmental stewardship and attention to sustainable cattle production. Glen and Dawn Ekert are the 2010 recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) handed out each year by the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) and sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Royal Bank. “We believe it’s worthwhile recognizing farmers who are environmental stewards,” says Joel Peterson, head of industry and government relations for DUC in Saskatchewan. “What we saw at the Ekerts’ is that a number of their land management practices are economically beneficial to the producer while being environmentally friendly and beneficial to duck production.” According to Peterson, this award is a celebration of producers who manage their land in an environmentally sustainable way. It’s a philosophy the Ekerts take seriously. The family has been farming for over 30 years near Moosomin and use many sustainable land management tools including a chemical-free approach. “My dad used a few chemicals [but] when I sprayed one year and got sick, I decided I was going to farm without chemicals,” says
Glen Ekert. “Organic farming is engrained in me as deep as it gets. I don’t see the need to put chemicals in the land.” The Ekerts were the first in the area to use bale grazing, a practice that uses cattle grazing to fertilize less nutrient-rich soil. This has now become common practice for surrounding farmers. Their innovative approach to livestock production has inspired their friends and neighbours and has set them out as leaders in their community. It was their holistic management group that nominated the Ekerts for the TESA award. “We’ve tried a lot of different things over the years that were different from regular practices,” says Ekert. “Some worked, some didn’t, but everyone has been able to learn from what we’ve tried.” The Ekerts say they are flattered to win this award, but the most gratifying part is the recognition from their peers. “It’s just nice to know that the people around you notice and appreciate what you are doing,” says Ekert, but he says winning this award isn’t going to change anything. “We’re just going to keep on doing what we’ve always been doing.” S
Conservation inspires artist
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If you see Lewis Lavoie painting at a local Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) dinner, don’t ask him too many questions. “I’m a man, we can’t multi-task,” jokes Lavoie. “When people ask me questions, I sometimes have to stop painting to answer them. It’s sometimes hard to talk and paint, but I enjoy people talking to me and asking questions.” In March, Lavoie did his first live painting at the Calahoo DUC dinner. Calahoo is approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. While guests were busy eating, mingling and placing silent auction bids, Lavoie sat in a corner of the room mixing brush strokes of brown and yellow paint along a 4 x 3½-foot canvas. After 2½ hours, the painting was auctioned to attendees. The finished product, a scene of an elk with the sunrise peeking through the woods, sold for $3,200. “I like that DUC uses art to raise money,” says Lavoie. “I like doing live paintings. It’s a way for me to donate my time. It’s exciting when people can see a blank canvas become something.” In his teens and early 20s, Lavoie admits, he was young and cocky. Painting came easily to him. He opted for starting up his own design company over going to art school. It’s a decision he doesn’t regret today, particularly since his company has worked on several major motion pictures over the years. “I’m not saying that people shouldn’t go to school, but I don’t think sitting in a classroom would have done anything for me,” he says. Inspired by a book on Robert Bateman’s paintings, Lavoie started painting wildlife, only to find out those who excelled at it were real-life animal lovers who not only painted, but thoroughly studied their subjects. So he moved from wildlife to dinosaurs because “no one could criticize me for painting dinosaurs. They couldn’t say this detail was wrong or that foot isn’t right.” Lavoie made a lucrative living out of painting dinosaurs. He then moved from dinosaurs to mural mosaics. His murals can be seen throughout Alberta – in downtown St. Albert, at the Military Museum in Calgary, and in the town of Cochrane. Lavoie still does wildlife painting on occasion. He looks forward to another season of DUC dinners and donating his time and artwork to a “good conservation cause.” S
western region ( Prairie/ Boreal )
The Flyway newsletter is published by Ducks Unlimited Canada Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Centre P.O. Box 1160, Stonewall, Manitoba R0C 2Z0 tel (204)467-3000 fax (204)467-9028 toll-free 1(800)665-DUCK Please direct your inquiries to the following: Eastern Region Atlantic: Krista Elliot Quebec: Bernard Filion Ontario: Joanne Barbazza Western Region Prairie-Western Boreal: Marci Dube British Columbia: Wendy Thatcher Flyway production staff Director of Communications and Marketing: Madeleine Arbez Editor: Duncan Morrison Assistant: Deb Menard Manager Creative Services: Lindsay Pikta-Marie Graphic Designers: Christa Edwards, Aquila Samson, Jeope Wolfe © Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2010 Printed in Canada on 100% recycled paper including 100% post-consumer fibres
Area Contacts Marketing/Communications Anh Hoang, Alberta, Manitoba (403) 476-1879 Wendy Thatcher, Western Boreal (604) 592-0987 Manager of Operations, Manitoba Bob Grant, Brandon (204) 729-3500 Manager of Operations, Saskatchewan Brent Kennedy, Regina (306) 569-0424
Lewis Lavoie’s first live painting for DUC’s Calahoo dinner was auctioned for $3,200. From left to right: Lewis Lavoie and successful bidder Chad Perrott and his wife Janine.
Manager of Operations, Alberta Pat Kehoe, Edmonton
(780) 489-2002
Education Rosemarie Ferjuc, Calgary Barb Hanbidge, Saskatoon Bob Laidler, Oak Hammock
(403) 476-1877 (306) 665-7356 (204) 467-3000
Western Boreal Program Eric Butterworth
(780) 489-8110
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