The DU podcast is again joined by Dr. Susan Felege to discuss additional ways in which she and her students are applying new technologies to study waterfowl ecology. In this episode we learn how drones, video cameras, and thermal cameras are being used to collect massive amounts of data more efficiently, at larger scales, and with less disturbance to ducks and geese. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Another week, another bonus episode on breeding habitat conditions in the Duck Factory. This update, provided by Dr. Mike Anderson, Emeritus Scientist with DU Canada’s Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, shares on-the-ground insights from a location considered a historical hotbed of waterfowl research – Minnedosa, Manitoba. Based on more than 40 years of observations, Dr. Anderson shares how this year is shaping up compared to past.
Dr. Susan Felege from the University of North Dakota is conducting pioneering research using video cameras to study nesting ducks in the U.S. prairies. Dr. Felege joins Dr. Mike Brasher to discuss some of this work and shares some of the interesting observations that she and her students have collected, including at least one example of white-tailed deer eating duck eggs! www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Mike Carter of the Playa Lakes Joint Venture and Matt Hough of DU rejoin the show to describe a terrific example of how DU’s conservation footprint can grow through approaches that deliver diverse benefits for birds and people. As a principle source of groundwater recharge for the Ogallala Aquifer, playa wetland conservation is being valued by a growing number of communities and landowners for the benefits they provide in securing the future of regional water supplies. www.ducks.org/dupodcast...
For the first time in its 65-year history, the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey is not being conducted. With questions swirling about what this means for population management and harvest regulations, we reached out to Dr. Ken Richkus, Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Bird Management, for first-hand answers to these questions and more. Settle in as we discuss this most important survey and unprecedented decision.
Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Mike Carter, Coordinator of the Playa Lakes Joint Venture, and Matt Hough, DU’s Director of Conservation Programs for Kansas, to discuss playa wetland conservation in the Western Great Plains. Our guests describe the importance of playa wetlands for wetland birds and groundwater recharge and provide an overview of historical and exciting new approaches to playa conservation. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
The DU Podcast is joined by our colleague from DU Canada, Kelly Rempel, Head of Habitat Asset Management Saskatchewan Provincial Operations, to discuss early observations of wetland conditions in the prairies and parklands of Saskatchewan, The Land of the Living Skies. It’s generally dry in the prairies with favorable conditions farther north in the parklands and Boreal Forest.
Waterfowl, for the most part, have returned to the breeding grounds. Join co-hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher as they discuss the processes involved with their return to nesting areas. The two discuss the preferred habitats of breeding ducks, the risks involved in nesting, the perils of being a duckling, and how science helps us better conserve and manage these habitats to benefit waterfowl populations. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
In the absence of typical habitat and duck reports from the May survey, we are turning to our folks in the field for first-hand updates and insights. On this episode, host Dr. Mike Brasher visits with Dr. Scott Stephens, DU Canada, for an early spring update on habitat conditions across the Canadian Prairies. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Phil Bourjaily, DU Magazine shotgunning columnist joins host Chris Jennings for another in-depth conversation on what waterfowlers should be doing in the off-season to prepare for the coming season. Bourjaily provides great detail on 10 additional tactics hunters can use to improve their shotgunning. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Phil Bourjaily, DU Magazine shotgunning columnist joins host Chris Jennings for a discussion on what waterfowlers should be doing in the off-season to prepare for the coming season. Bourjaily provides great detail on 10 tactics hunters can use to improve their shotgunning. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
We conclude our 3-part series with Jerry Holden by discussing our organizational mission, the legacy of conservation support from waterfowl hunters, pursuit of expanded partnerships, and the broad-based benefits of DU’s wetlands conservation in the Southern Region. Lastly, Jerry and host Dr. Mike Brasher share personal experiences and the inspiration that comes from working with DU’s dedicated volunteers, members, and staff. www.ducks.org/dupodcast...
We continue with part 2 of a 3-part conversation with Jerry Holden, Director of Operations for DU’s Southern Region. In this episode, Jerry introduces the people, places, habitats, and conservation efforts within the Southern Region, and what makes it both incredibly special and immensely challenging. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
In early February, we sat down for a wide-ranging discussion with Jerry Holden, Director of Operations for DU’s Southern Region. In the first of a 3-part series, Jerry shares his path to DU, his passion for conservation, and trades stories with podcast host Dr. Mike Brasher about the challenges and rewards of waterfowl hunting, including personal experiences from the 2019-20 hunting season. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Today, we go off the beaten path to discuss an entertaining adventure and important lesson on predatory journals. Dr. Dan Baldassarre, Assistant Professor of Zoology at SUNY Oswego, recently made headlines for the successful publication of a satirical article designed to expose the existence and dangers of unscrupulous actors among scientific journals. Listen and get wiser as we learn about The Deal With Birds! www.ducks.org/dupodcast...
So, you found yourself with a mallard or Canada goose nesting in your flowerpot. Why is this happening, what should you know, and what are your options? Join the DU Podcast as hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher share their answers to these questions and more, when discussing urban nesting waterfowl. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
DU Podcast is back for Season 2: The Off Season! Hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher return to bring the DU audience discussions on conservation, science and research, off-season shotgunning, retriever training, and much more. The DU Podcast will continue to be a source of information on all-things waterfowl conservation. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher wrap up the first season of the Ducks Unlimited Podcast. The duo discusses the trials and tribulations, but also explains what listeners should be excited about for Season 2. Thanks to everyone who joined the show and all who listened. Stay tuned! Download, subscribe, and rate the DU Podcast. https://www.ducks.org/dupodcast .
Kevin Kraai, waterfowl program leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department talks with hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher about Texas light goose hunting and the reasons why there has been a shift in the birds’ wintering grounds. Learn how this historical hunting area has all but disappeared. Download, subscribe, and rate the DU Podcast. https://www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Kevin Kraai, waterfowl program leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department talks with hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher about Texas habitat changes that may be leading to shifts in wintering distribution. Kraai breaks down Texas’ various habitat types and explains what has changed. Download, subscribe, and rate the DU Podcast. https://www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with DU’s new Director of Conservation Strategy, Dr. Steve Adair, to learn about DU’s efforts to grow our conservation influence and footprint. Specifically, we discuss the importance of championing and marketing the benefits of DU’s conservation work beyond providing waterfowl habitat. These include benefits to water quality, water quantity, stormwater retention, storm surge mitigation, and a host of other ecosystem services. Dr. Adair shares his excitement for this p...
Host Chris Jennings gets Tony Vandemore, guide and co-owner of Habitat Flats, on the line to discuss the pace of the light goose migration. Vandemore moved from Arkansas up to his home turf near Sumner, Missouri in the middle of the month. Listen to find out more. Download, subscribe, and rate the DU Podcast. https://www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Dr. Scott Stephens rejoins host Dr. Mike Brasher to continue their discussion about DU Canada’s conservation programs in the Canadian Prairies. This episode describes some of the new conservation partnerships that DU Canada is forging within the farming and ranching communities, and how these efforts are delivering mutually beneficial outcomes. Scott also discusses opportunities within the broader ecosystem services arena. We also get a sneak peek at how wetland conditions are shaping up as we l...
Friend and colleague Dr. Scott Stephens, DU Canada, joins Dr. Mike Brasher to discuss some of the important habitat conservation work being undertaken to benefit breeding waterfowl in the Canadian Prairies. This discussion highlights some of the historical and traditional programs that DU Canada has used to protect and restore priority wetlands and grasslands for waterfowl but also introduces exciting new programs that are being used to increase DU’s capacity to conserve waterfowl habitats. www....
Dr. Mike Brasher is joined in studio by a trio of special guests to discuss trends in waterfowl hunter numbers and the importance of recruiting our next generation of hunter-conservationists. Former DU Chief Scientist Dale Humburg, University of Nebraska PhD student Katherine Graham, and Professor of Human Dimensions Research Dr. Chris Chisznski share their expertise on this subject and provide insights gained from recently completed research. www.ducks.org...
In the final installment of this special series on waterfowl harvest estimation, Drs. Kathy Fleming and Paul Padding discuss the 2 critical surveys that are part of this process: Migratory Bird Hunter Survey and Parts Collection Survey. This episode sheds light on how these data are collected and used, and why none of this would be possible without the interest, cooperation, and participation by hunters. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Host Chris Jennings is joined by Jay Anglin, DU Great Lakes Migration Editor, to discuss light goose migrations into Illinois and Indiana. The two also talk about Arkansas goose numbers and opportunities for hunters to take advantage of these late hunts. Download, subscribe, and rate the DU Podcast. https://www.ducks.org/dupodcast
In part 2 of this series on waterfowl harvest estimation, Drs. Kathy Fleming and Paul Padding go in-depth on the Harvest Information Program, known to most people simply as “HIP,” to explain how it works and how the data are used to select hunters for participating in the core surveys from which harvest is estimated. We also discuss additional uses of waterfowl harvest data. www.ducks.org/dupodcast
Waterfowl hunters harvest 12–14 million ducks and 3 million geese annually in the U.S. The process used to estimate annual waterfowl harvest has several components and relies on the cooperation and participation by State wildlife agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and most importantly waterfowl hunters. Drs. Kathy Fleming and Paul Padding of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service join Dr. Mike Brasher to help explain the harvest estimation process and some of the important uses of these e...
Kevin Kraai, Waterfowl Program Leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department joins the podcast to discuss the history of the Texas Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey and results from the most recent survey in January 2020. We learn about the numerous ecoregions and important waterfowl habitats across the state of Texas and converse about notable observations in duck and goose abundance from the survey. The 2020 survey revealed the 3rd highest state-wide estimate for dabbling ducks since 1997. www.duck...
