Drought Limits Rest Stops for Migrating Waterfowl - USA Today

National publications have begun discussing the possible effects of the drought on the patterns of migratory waterfowl. Chuck Raasch’s “Drought Limits Rest Stops” article appeared in the Thursday, September 6, 2012, edition of the USA Today. According to the article, though Hurricane Isaac did help conditions as far north as the Great Lakes, James Wortham, chief of migratory bird surveys for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was quoted that it “was too late to boost crops the birds use for food on the way south.” The piece continued that waterfowl species which would normally rest on wetlands on the way south “may have to just keep flying south.” Many of the northern and midwestern refuges will be dry or diminished when the bulk of the migration arrives. Dale Humburg, chief biologist for Ducks Unlimited was quoted, “In a normal year, they would kind of hopscotch down the flyways.” He continued, “In a year like this, there are really going to be a limited number of locations they will find en route.”

With duck numbers 43% above the average since 1955 and favorable conditions in the MS Delta, we hope to see a large wintering population this season.