Delta Waterfowl Meeting Last Night!
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2002 7:59 am
27 attendees last night at Red-Hot-Blue restaurant. Twenty minute slide presentation of DW purpose and goals. Q&A session followed by pulled pork bar-b-que dinner. 2 regional directors of DU were in attendence. Not as spys but to let everyone know that both organizations work very closely together for the same purpose, the ducks. The DW speaker agreed and was complimentary of DU throughout the presentation. DW trains the DU biologist in the field. DW big into number 1 problem-predators. Fox, skunk and raccoons worst. Ducks must have 15% success hatch rate for fall flight to break even. Thanks to DW the rate is as high as 40% in some areas. The highest success rate areas are where hen houses are in place allowing the hen to hatch her young three feet off ground. These cost about $20 each and DW currently has about 1000 in place with an 80% occupancy rate. Speaker admits counting fall flight with accuracy almost impossible. Census counts nesting mallards and makes estimates on hatch rate success.DW nor DU believes artificial feeding of ducks taking place causing short-stopping. A central Ms chapter will be formed shortly with a dinner banquet sometime this fall. Your participation will be greatly appreciated by the hen mallards.