“Water” is the important word in waterfowl forecast

Waterfowl hunters’ wishes came true this year when Missouri got more rain, but they backfired, damaging wetlands and reducing the availability of food that might induce ducks and geese to linger in the Show-Me State.
Drought has plagued Missouri in recent years, hampering efforts to keep wetlands wet. This year, however, those who manage wetland areas for the Missouri Department of Conservation tore their hair as floods destroyed levees, drowned out native, seed-producing plants, killed crops planted for ducks and geese and made any kind of active management impossible on many areas.
“You need water for good duck habitat,” said Resource Scientist Andy Raedeke, “but this year much of this rain has come at the wrong time. Many wetland-dependent species depend on spring floods to recharge basins and provide habitat. However, late summer and early fall floods are unusual in Missouri and can destroy much-needed food resources and habitat for migrating waterfowl. One bright spot is that floods at this time of year do provide more habitat for wading birds and migrating shorebirds.”
Data from the weather station at Sanborn Field in Boone County give some idea how much of a “good thing” Missouri has gotten this year. From January through...
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