Preseason 2023

[DComeaux]

I received an email just before lunch which contained pictures of the restoration project survey that was made this morning of the area which is just to our south and east. The land build runs up to our southern border. The main levees were rebuilt and sand was pumped in from an offshore dredge location into what used to be a large area of open water. This is the start of what are a few more similar projects for that area that are approved and awaiting funding. This is getting a lot of political attention and things are looking up on the SW side of the state.

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[DComeaux]

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[Rick]

That's a lot of dirt. Hope storms don't derail the project before vegetation can firm it up...

[DComeaux]

That's a lot of dirt. Hope storms don't derail the project before vegetation can firm it up...

It is, and that's in my thoughts as well.

This projects scope was 400+ acres, if I'm not mistaken. The Rockefeller rock project on the gulf shoreline westward has silted in nicely.

I wanted to add that there is an average of a 15 year lull between major hits and we had two back to back in the same season, so we're good for the next 30 years.

[Ericdc]

The El Niño pattern we are scheduled for this summer indicates lower hurricane activity levels for Atlantic.


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[DComeaux]

The El Niño pattern we are scheduled for this summer indicates lower hurricane activity levels for Atlantic.


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YES! I've been checking on those things.

[Rick]

Don't jinks us.

[Ericdc]

I'm not a hokus pokes, jinx, karma type.

I do genuinely hope we don't get any tropical activity on the coast this year though, .


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[DComeaux]

El Nino has arrived.

https://weather.com/news/climate/video/el-nino-is-officially-here-what-that-means-for-your-forecast

[DComeaux]

https://deltawaterfowl.org/north-dakota-waterfowl-survey-shows-wet-conditions-slight-increase-in-ducks/

For Immediate Release
June 8, 2023

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — Extreme snowfall last winter across central and eastern North Dakota has set up the state for good duck production this spring.

Results from North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual breeding waterfowl and wetland survey reveal good to excellent conditions for breeding ducks.

“We had a lot of snow last winter and ended up with our 7th-highest wetland index, which is a little bit less than last year (2nd highest ever), but still very, very good,” said Mike Szymanski, migratory game bird supervisor for the NDGFD.

The total duck number was estimated just above 3.4 million, a slight increase over the breeding population from 2022. While ducks are up overall, mallards are down 10 percent at 640,000, with blue-winged teal also slightly lower but still a strong 925,000 in the state.

Szymanski reported increases in redheads, canvasbacks, and shovelers over 2022, but the most pleasant surprise is a 40 percent increase in breeding pintails, bringing their breeding populations in North Dakota back to numbers not seen in the state since the 2000s.

While Szymanski said habitat conditions ranged from fair to excellent across North Dakota, heavy rains in key areas in early May should lead to good duck production.

Canada goose numbers declined 27 percent, however they were at an all-time high in 2022. The estimated 297,000 Canada geese represents a strong population, Szymanski said.

Matt Chouinard, waterfowl programs director based at Delta Waterfowl’s headquarters in Bismarck, North Dakota, reported that seasonal wetlands—small, shallow ponds in pastures and crop fields that are so important for breeding ducks—were abundant across the central and eastern portions of the state.

“It feels like conditions for nesting ducks are a little better this year,” Chouinard said. “I observed a lot of pastures and fields with seasonal ponds, and water outside of the cattail rings in semi-permanent wetlands. That flooded cover helps ducklings avoid predators, and it’s where they will go to survive.”

Chouinard also noted that Delta’s Predator Management trappers are reporting a strong duck nesting effort this spring as they work to increase duck production.

“If we keep getting rains, any ducks that lose a first nest will have a good opportunity to renest this year, and it will also help increase brood survival,” Chouinard said.

North Dakota is a leading state for duck production, and a strong breeding season will feed ducks to all four flyways this fall.

The annual North Dakota survey serves as an important first index of breeding duck numbers in the critical prairie pothole region. Conditions are generally good across the PPR, although parts of the Saskatchewan and Alberta prairie are dry.

Just what kind of fall flight to expect will come into focus in over the next couple of months. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service are completing and compiling data for the 2023 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. The results are expected to be released in August. The survey estimated the total duck population at 34.2 million in 2022.

Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group working to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.

[PorkChop]

Thank you for posting! You’re obviously smarter than me because I couldn’t figure it out haha

[Deltaman]

Great news, and looks like their observation is as positive as PC's recent postings

[Darren]

I've seen that approach up close and personal on some public land stomping grounds back home.....ring levee then dredge for filling in.......creates some absolutely stellar fowl habitat with all the variation in elevation creating lots of puddles and just a whole lot of SHALLOW. The availability of grit also proves an attraction. Would think it overall great for you, though not to be surprised when the birds are enjoying that and not wanting to leave it.

[DComeaux]

I've seen that approach up close and personal on some public land stomping grounds back home.....ring levee then dredge for filling in.......creates some absolutely stellar fowl habitat with all the variation in elevation creating lots of puddles and just a whole lot of SHALLOW. The availability of grit also proves an attraction. Would think it overall great for you, though not to be surprised when the birds are enjoying that and not wanting to leave it.

There will be some Chenier cowboys chasing them out of there, believe me. We had a fireworks show out of a blind just to our east right at LST on new year's morning. These were the big boom type with high altitude burst with crackle noises.


I just noticed that I have the ability to edit everyone's post in my log. Not a good thing I would think. I do appreciate having the ability to edit my posts without a time limit. I tend to forget things in a post, or insert wrong dates, etc.

[DComeaux]

I got these in today to add to my remaining stock from last year. Looks like they've changed the look of the box.

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I'm also brushing up for the new pup, once I find one.

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[Duck Engr]

I just noticed that I have the ability to edit everyone's post in my log. Not a good thing I would think. I do appreciate having the ability to edit my posts without a time limit. I tend to forget things in a post, or insert wrong dates, etc.

Yeah that’s the only drawback to the new system but hey, your log, your world, we’re just living in it. If a log owner wants someone else’s post modified, so be it. If poster doesn’t like what it’s been modified to, they’re free to delete it.

[Duck Engr]

10 minute retriever is my go-to as well!

[Rick]

Take it y'all have found out Amy lied. Took me a lot longer than 10 minutes just to read the dang thing, much less try to get the dog to.

[DComeaux]

I just noticed that I have the ability to edit everyone's post in my log. Not a good thing I would think. I do appreciate having the ability to edit my posts without a time limit. I tend to forget things in a post, or insert wrong dates, etc.

Yeah that’s the only drawback to the new system but hey, your log, your world, we’re just living in it. If a log owner wants someone else’s post modified, so be it. If poster doesn’t like what it’s been modified to, they’re free to delete it.

I'm good with it. I would never edit anyone's post but my own.

[DComeaux]

Take it y'all have found out Amy lied. Took me a lot longer than 10 minutes just to read the dang thing, much less try to get the dog to.

I'm a picture kind of guy and this book definitely has a lot of words. I've found a lot of what's mentioned so far I had used with Ellie. This is the first training instruction material I have ever purchased, and so far I think I was in line with it. There are a couple of areas I wanted some insight on such as the early pup stage and force fetch, if needed. I'm really looking forward to training this new family member.

[DComeaux]

I cannot get this to load as a video from FB.


Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries - Whooping Cranes
Get outta here! Male L3-14 and female L2-12 recently found out what it was like to get too close to a group of angry black-necked stilts!

https://www.facebook.com/lawhoopingcranes/videos/779397043731188

[Deltaman]

Was able to cut and paste in my browser. Tough little birds!!!!!

[DComeaux]

Was able to cut and paste in my browser. Tough little birds!!!!!

It's a hyperlink. You should have been able to just left click on it.

Those stilts are the sound of the marsh. We should be seeing more of those at the blind as we get more marshy land area around us.

[DComeaux]

Teaching the doodle dance to the youngins.

[Deltaman]

Thanks for the smile Dave!!!!!!!

[DComeaux]

My wing survey from this past season. I'm grateful for the GW, but I sure would like the opportunity to submit more of other species. This is my third year doing this wing thing and I was told that it is the limit per person, and that I'll be put back in the pool for future surveys.

For those that may not be unaware of the zoom function, left click the picture twice and you can slide the picture up and down and side to side.

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[Duck Engr]

Seems to be a fair number of juvies still making it down your way. How does it compare to previous 2 years roughly?

[DComeaux]

Seems to be a fair number of juvies still making it down your way. How does it compare to previous 2 years roughly?

This was the 2021 2022 season.

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[Darren]

Something like 54 birds submitted, 29 or so being juvies, ballparking around 53%.....is that good? Bad? Awful? Great? I've got no idea, but do like it a lot better than 15-25%.

"Ducks dont come to La anymore"


Come on DC, its June, we can laugh

Note, only like 9 adult females.....DC was selective in targeting juvies and drakes, good work !

[DComeaux]

Something like 54 birds submitted, 29 or so being juvies, ballparking around 53%.....is that good? Bad? Awful? Great? I've got no idea, but do like it a lot better than 15-25%.

"Ducks dont come to La anymore"


Come on DC, its June, we can laugh

Note, only like 9 adult females.....DC was selective in targeting juvies and drakes, good work !

In years past I would have had to request more blank forms and the species list would be more diverse.