Flyways-Prairie-32-3

western region ( Prairie/ Boreal ) Yukon • Northwest Territories • Nunavut • Alberta • Saskatchewan • Manitoba

volume 32, number 3, 2011

Ducks Unlimited Canada helps farmers in flood fight

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Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is offering haying and grazing opportunities to livestock producers from areas that are hit hardest by the severe flooding of farmlands in Saskatchewan through a Flood Relief Forage Program.

“We are anticipating that some producers will have difficulty accessing their pastures and hayfields this year, and Ducks Unlimited Canada wants to do what we can to help out. We will provide access to our land wherever appropriate,” says Brent Kennedy, manager of provincial operations in Saskatchewan for DUC. “We’ve made similar offers during times of drought, and we know from those experiences that in a time of need, access to additional grazing or haying lands can make a difference for livestock producers.”

Each year DUC offers 20,000 or more acres for haying and grazing tenders. The Flood Relief Forage Program is using a similar approach to determine where the help is needed the most. DUC began tendering the pasture land in June, and a second call for hay tenders went out in July.

“We’ve looked at areas of the province and in the places where the need was the greatest we opened extra land through the program,” Kennedy says. “We want to work with producers to help them find solutions to get through this difficult time.”

For more information on the tendering package for the Flood Relief Forage Program, please contact Dave O’Bertos at (306) 441-2075.

DUC delivers several agricultural conservation programs in Saskatchewan and all revenues generated from the tendering of these lands are reinvested into the programs in the province.

For almost 75 years, Ducks Unlimited Canada has worked to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. Despite the many benefits wetlands provide to people and wildlife, they continue to be lost across Canada. In some areas of Saskatchewan, up to 90 per cent of wetlands have been lost. S

DUC involved in development of the Saskatchewan Environmental Code

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Saskatchewan is moving to a results-based model for environmental regulation under the new Environmental Management and Protection Act 2010 (EMPA). The intent is to provide developers and advocates of various activities (such as forestry, oil and gas, municipal planning) with clear environmental outcomes that must be met, while encouraging creative approaches to achieve these results. Under this new model, regulators will focus more on monitoring and auditing to ensure that results are being met, with enhanced powers to enforce regulatory compliance.

A key component of this model is the Saskatchewan Environmental Code (SEC) which will include various regulations under the EMPA, the Forest Resource Management Act and the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act. A first for Canada, the SEC will clearly specify results that must be met, identify acceptable solutions to achieve these results, and provide a framework to develop alternative solutions within the following areas, or chapters as they are defined in the SEC: municipal, industrial, lands, fish and wildlife, climate change, air management, forestry and linear activities (roads, seismic lines, drainage ditches, pipeline development). Each section is being written by a committee with representatives from government, industry and, in some cases, environmental organizations.

The SEC’s development has provided Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) with a new venue to advance our wetland and waterfowl policy goals in the province. Since late 2009, employees have participated in stakeholder forums held by the Ministry of Environment and represented DUC on committees developing the components for both forestry and linear activities as these both have the potential to influence wetland conservation with forestry in the north and linear activities across the province.

“DUC’s involvement on these committees has received support from government and industry partners,” notes Mark Kornder, DUC’s western boreal program lead in the province, “and we are encouraged that wetland conservation is a welcome issue at the table as the SEC develops.”

DUC continues to monitor the progress of the other committees as well, especially the lands and fish and wildlife chapters, and has committed to reviewing and providing comments as these sections develop.

The Saskatchewan government expects to implement the SEC in 2012 when the first chapters are complete. Until then, current regulations remain in effect. More information is available at www.environment.gov.sk.ca. S

Duckling survival on the prairies

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Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) upland habitat management programs aim to increase duck nesting success; however, it hasn’t been exactly clear how these programs affect other population processes like duckling survival.

Using data from the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture (PHJV) assessment study, researcher Pauline Bloom addressed the effectiveness of the habitat management program during her MSc research at the University of Saskatchewan. She found that these management programs targeting nesting success are either good for or have no impact on duckling survival rates.

When considering the effects of uplands and wetlands, the study determined that survival was lower for ducklings that had to travel farther overland or in areas with a high number of semi-permanent wetlands. When grasslands were managed, duckling survival was good, but that wasn’t the case in managed hay lands. The negative effect of managed hay lands needs to be explored further.

The study also found management that protects and enhances grasslands benefits both nesting success and duckling survival and should lead to greater waterfowl productivity.

With these results, DUC recommends continuing efforts to protect the native grasslands that remain in the Canadian prairie pothole region, converting annual cropland back into perennial grassland, and encouraging and aiding farmers and ranchers to practise good pasture management.

Surprisingly, mallard females that selected brood-rearing areas of high wetland density had poorer duckling survival than those females that did not. This pattern has been observed during nesting, too.

Mack and Clark (2006) found that females that successfully hatched nests were in areas with relatively fewer wetlands than the average for the study site.

Females that avoided areas with abundant trees and shrubs also had a better chance of successfully raising their broods. This suggests that focusing wetland management in areas with less woody cover could have a positive effect on waterfowl productivity. But trees and shrubs are common features of landscapes in the Canadian aspen parklands and avoiding these areas may not be feasible or cost-effective.

Continued knowledge of how habitat selection influences adult female duck survival, nesting success and duckling survival is important for DUC’s future management planning.

Pauline Bloom’s research was supported, in part, by the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation Wetlands and Waterfowl Research Fellowship and an Industrial Postgraduate NSERC Scholarship, with DUC as the industry partner. S

western region (prairie/boreal)

Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor calls for nominations of wetland champions

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Lieutenant Governor’s Greenwing Conservation Award to recognize contributions to wetland conservation in Saskatchewan.

Do you know someone who recognizes the value of wetlands and is dedicated to protecting and restoring these valuable resources? You should consider nominating them for the 2011 Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor’s Greenwing Conservation Award.

The deadline for nominations is September 16, 2011 and the presentation will take place November 17, 2011 in Regina.

The award recognizes people for demonstrating leadership in conserving wetlands for the benefit of waterfowl, wildlife, and people. The award is sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Canada and presented by the Honourable Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

To find out more about the Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor’s Greenwing Conservation Award and to make a nomination please visit ducks.ca. S

SFI conservation grant supports wetland research

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Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), in partnership with LouisianaPacific Canada Ltd. and FPInnovations, received a conservation grant from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) to determine best practices for road development in the western boreal forest.

Boreal wetlands are often highly interconnected systems and roads have the potential to harm these wetlands by interfering with their natural flow.

“The SFI conservation grant offers our biologists, wetland ecologists and GIS specialists the required support to work with forestry professionals and share knowledge of boreal wetlands and work with them to enhance the planning and building of roads.

We also plan to test the effectiveness of road building techniques to determine if they maintain the unique ecological characteristics and functions of different classes of boreal wetlands,” says Chris Smith, manager of industry and government relations for Ducks Unlimited Canada’s western boreal program.

The project will receive $180,000 over three years through the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program. The forestry road research will be led by DUC and Louisiana-Pacific Canada (LP), with resource road and engineering expertise from the

forest operations division of FPInnovations. DUC will provide the wetland and hydrology expertise, LP and other forest industry professionals will contribute on-the-ground forestry knowledge and FPInnovations will provide the engineering expertise.

The project will seek to identify existing or develop new best management practices most compatible with minimizing impacts on the different wetland types found in the boreal. The results will be field tested, and the knowledge transferred back to project partners and other forestry professionals with the intent to provide guidance on how to modify planning and construction techniques as needed.

“This research will help program participants operating in the boreal region better implement our SFI standard requirements, such as protection of water resources and biodiversity,” SFI president and CEO Kathy Abusow says. “This is a wonderful example of why SFI launched the conservation grant program last year – it will bring together conservation and forest engineering expertise, foster collaboration, and build knowledge to improve practices and protect special areas.”

SFI is an independent charitable organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. It offers a forest certification standard based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity and wildlife habitat. S

Celebrating DUC volunteers

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Volunteers are the heart and soul of Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). These dedicated people manage and co-ordinate events such as dinners and auctions, golf tournaments, a variety of sporting events and sealed bid auctions to raise the funds needed to continue DUC’s work of conserving Canada’s wetland habitats.

The hard work and dedication of volunteers in Canada is recognized each year during National Volunteer Week in April.

“National Volunteer Week is our chance to honour our nearly 7,000 volunteers across Canada, and in particular, our young volunteers who are introducing a whole new generation to DUC,” says Loraine Nyokong, DUC national director of fundraising and membership. “Volunteers like them are the rising stars of our organization. The fact that they recognize the importance of wetland conservation and are spreading the word is fantastic, not only for DUC, but for all Canadians.”

Kylie and Cole Wasiuta: Volunteering with DUC – Three Generations of Conservation Brother and sister team Cole and Kylie Wasiuta from Springfield, Man., are third-generation Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) volunteers.

Kylie, 20, is a champion horseback rider and her younger brother Cole, 19, works for their father’s construction company.

They became involved with DUC at a very young age through their parents and grandfather, and are now keen volunteers in their own right.

The siblings both participated in the DUC Greenwing program for youngsters. They made regular visits to Oak Hammock Marsh – home of the DUC head office and an extensive interpretive and educational facility. Currently, they are helping organize the DUC Springfield fundraising dinner.

“Living in harmony with the land is part of our lifestyle,” says Kylie. “It is a part of who we are. My brother and I grew up hunting and fishing with our dad and grandpa, spending countless hours and weekends learning about the importance of wetlands. Being involved with DUC is important for our local area and for our wildlife. We understand that because we have been raised with it.”

“Kylie and Cole are remarkable youngsters with a true passion for the outdoors,” says Mark Williams, DUC fundraising manager in Manitoba. “Young people like Kylie and Cole are integral to the future of DUC and the conservation of Canada’s wetlands.”

Laura Dean: Volunteering with DUC – Commitment to Community When Laura Dean moved to Yorkton, Sask., seven years ago, she was looking for ways to meet people in her new community. That’s how she came across Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). Volunteering with DUC has been a great way for her to contribute to wetland conservation efforts and also to get to know like-minded people. Dean has been an active supporter of DUC ever since.

At 33, Dean is one of the younger members of the Yorkton DUC ladies’ committee. The committee organizes an annual fundraising luncheon for women of all ages from the Yorkton community. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about the important role that women play in conserving wetland habitat.

Dean also volunteers her time on the annual DUC Yorkton fundraising dinner – one of the largest events in the province.

“Being involved with DUC has been a great experience for me,” says Dean. “Not only have I met a terrific group of people, I am helping to conserve Canada’s wetlands.”

“Laura’s passion and enthusiasm for DUC is a huge benefit to the Yorkton ladies’ chapter, which organizes one of the best DUC women’s events in Saskatchewan,” says Todd Holmquist, DUC fundraising manager in Saskatchewan. “She is a great example of how young volunteers can bring new ideas to DUC as well as help and encourage other young people to become involved in important issues like wetland conservation.”

Dean’s commitment and passion for conservation started at an early age.

“I was raised to spend a lot of time in the outdoors. Canada is one of the best places in the world for that,” she says. “Having lived abroad, I believe that we Canadians are incredibly fortunate to have such ecological diversity. DUC is one organization that helps secure that diversity for future generations.”

Hal Ziprick: Volunteering with DUC – It’s All About Education Hal Ziprick of Smoky Lake, Alta., has dedicated his young adult life to educating youth on the importance of environmental issues. Being a Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) volunteer is a big part of his own personal commitment to the environment and one that he shares with his students as a wildlife educator and science teacher at the local junior high and high school in his community. Much of the curriculum that he uses has been developed through his own ingenuity and dedication to conservation.

Ziprick was introduced to DUC as a teenager when he attended a DUC fundraising dinner. A decade ago he joined the DUC Smoky Lake committee and has been chair or co-chair ever since.

Ziprick plays a strong role on the committee and encourages his students to do the same; their involvement in the past has included creating centrepieces – anything from bird feeders to silhouettes of wetland scenes – for dinner tables at fundraising events. The students also make mallard nest boxes for community wetlands, which will be studied for occupancy in the future.

“Hal is one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever met and he has an amazing rapport with kids,” says Colin Saker, DUC fundraising manager in Alberta. “He has introduced his students to DUC wetland conservation programs and inspired them to spend more time outdoors exploring than indoors.”

Inspiring children is something that keeps Ziprick volunteering for DUC. “I figure that the more kids we can get interested in the outdoors, the more hope we have for our future,” he says. “It’s all about educating these kids and passing the torch to the next generation.” S

western region (prairie/boreal)

DUC completing nesting study in southwestern Saskatchewan

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Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) researchers have returned to southwestern Saskatchewan for the final year of a 10-year study to determine how nesting success of prairie waterfowl varies in relation to the landscape types of the prairie pothole region.

Researchers from DUC’s science and research arm, the Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research (IWWR), have brought their nest searching equipment to 120 study sites in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta since 2002.

This spring and summer, research will be conducted near the communities of Climax, Frontier, Robsart and Shaunavon. It’s the second time that DUC will use these sites for research; the sites were last visited in 2003. Other past study sites in Saskatchewan have been near the communities of Blaine Lake, Bredenbury, Chaplin, Humboldt, Kennedy, Kenaston, Nokomis, Radville and Unity.

“Research is suggesting there is a positive relationship between waterfowl nesting success and the amount of perennial cover such as hay land, pasture, idle grassland, trees and shrubs on the landscape,” says Bob Emery, IWWR biologist and a supervisor of the study.

“We’re trying to see if all types of perennial cover contribute equally to such a relationship, or if some cover types are better than others.”

Common prairie duck species such as mallard, blue-winged teal, gadwall, northern pintail, northern shoveler, canvasback and

redhead are the focus of this research, known as the Spatial and Temporal Study (SpATS). The researchers will be working at six study sites of 41 square kilometres each. Each site varies by number of waterfowl pairs and area of perennial upland vegetation.

Up to 12 researchers will be at these sites until August searching for duck nests, counting waterfowl pairs, and classifying upland and wetland habitat. Emery points out the support from local communities has been very good. “Over 20 landowners gave us permission to access their land for this year’s research,” he says.

In addition to the main project, researchers will also use radiotelemetry to follow up to 50 female northern pintail ducks that have been fitted with small radio transmitters. Northern pintail duck populations have declined dramatically since the 1970s and reduced nesting success and/or duckling survival are suspected as the primary factors for this decline.

The current study is funded by Bayer CropScience through the Winter Cereals: Sustainability in Action initiative. The researchers will concentrate on determining brood and duckling survival from nests hatched in winter wheat, spring-seeded crops, grassland and hay. Fall-seeded crops like winter wheat have been shown to increase nest survival among waterfowl nesting in cropland. S

DUC partner wins an Emerald

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Agrium Inc. has received two green thumbs up for its education program aimed at engaging Alberta students to preserve and improve their local watersheds. A Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) partner, Agrium’s Caring for our Watershed (CFW) program was a winner of the 2011 Alberta Emerald Award in the education category.

The annual award recognizes environmental initiatives undertaken by Alberta organizations and individuals.

“The Emerald Award is like winning an Oscar for environmental stewardship in Alberta,” said Lindsey Metheral, Agrium Program Coordinator. “The CFW program continues to grow thanks to our community partners who are dedicated to mentoring students on the state of their local watershed.”

Agrium has teamed up with DUC on several initiatives, the most recent being the Legacy Wetland Restoration Program. The company’s $1 million dollar gift over four years will enable DUC to conserve more waterfowl habitat across the Prairies. Through this new program, DUC will use Agrium’s donation to purchase land in areas critical for waterfowl. Wetland habitat on the properties will be restored and then the land re-sold with a conservation easement attached to protect the habitat value in perpetuity. Funds from the sale of these properties will then be used to buy, restore and resell another parcel of land under the legacy program.

The first projects are Gabruck in Central Alberta, and Bryska in southeastern Saskatchewan.

Bob Corrigan, DUC development manager, said the new partnership with Agrium is an innovative way for DUC to conserve wetlands, which also makes economic sense for the organization and conservation-minded landowners.

“We believe that there are many producers who know the value of restoring wetlands, but they may lack the resources to take that first step,” said Corrigan. “This program provides fair market value to landowners and ensures healthy wetlands are conserved in perpetuity.”

Ducks Unlimited Canada congratulates its partner, Agrium, for winning a 2011 Emerald Award. 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 British Columbia: Wendy Thatcher Alberta: Anh Hoang Saskatchewan: Lori Gasper Manitoba: Karli Reimer Flyway production staff Communications and Marketing Director: Sandy Gousseau Assistant: Debbie Menard Manager Creative Services: Lindsay Pikta-Marie Graphic Designers: Christa Edwards, Aquila Samson, Jeope Wolfe © Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2011 Printed in Canada on 100% recycled paper including 100% post-consumer fibres

Area Contacts Marketing/Communications Karli Reimer, Manitoba Lori Gasper, Saskatchewan Anh Hoang, Alberta Wendy Thatcher, Western Boreal

(204) 467-3000 (306) 569-0424 (403) 476-1879 (604) 592-0987

Manager of Operations, Manitoba Bob Grant, Brandon (204) 729-3500 Manager of Operations, Saskatchewan Brent Kennedy, Regina (306) 569-0424 Manager of Operations, Alberta Perry McCormick, Calgary

(403) 201-5577

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

Fundraising, Manitoba & Saskatchewan Brent Richards (204) 832-0755 Fundraising, Alberta, NWT & the Yukon Keith Mackintosh (306) 665-7155

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