A duck’s best friend

With a helping hand from Ducks Unlimited, Alberta farmers are giving waterfowl a safe place to call home.

The ducks, you have to admit, were here first.

Long, long before agriculture took root on the Canadian Prairies, waterfowl’s annual cycle of breeding, moulting and migration was part of the nature of things.

For the first 100 years or so of prairie agriculture, little was known about the impact of farming on waterfowl habitat and populations. Now, thanks to the work of groups like Ducks Unlimited Canada, it’s understood that farming practices fundamentally affect waterfowl. More important still, the industry is doing something about it.

“We work closely with Alberta farmers to help them adapt their cultivation, grazing and haying practices to meet the needs of waterfowl populations,” explains Brett Calverley, Edmonton-based program biologist for Ducks Unlimited Canada. “It’s a win-win, since sustainable farming practices help both the waterfowl and the farmer’s bottom line.”

A place to come home to

Alberta is home to some 18 different species of ducks, with mallards, scaup and teals being the most prevalent.

Breeding and moulting is the focus of summer for these Alberta waterfowl. Between September and November each year, they migrate to warmer parts like California, Texas and Louisiana. When spring comes, it signals to the ducks that it’s time to come back.

“When most species of waterfowl return to Alberta, they look for wetlands in exactly the same spot as they were reared or where they nested the previous summer,” says Calverley. “When they get here, they’re ready for business.”

The business of breeding, that is, and here farmers play a key supporting role. One way is ensuring that farming practices maintain the quality of the wetlands the ducks come home to. That means the safe use of any fertilizers and crop protection chemicals, so there’s no runoff into the wetlands.

Sharing the field

Most ducks don’t nest within wetlands, but on land, in what is more than likely a farmer’s field.

“Waterfowl need safe, upland nesting sites,” says Calverley. “We help the farmer be aware of their presence in the field, and develop strategies the farmer can use to continue working the land without disturbing the nests.”

One simple tool is a rattling chain mounted on the front of the farmer’s harvesting equipment. It allows any nesting ducks to sense the farmer’s imminent arrival and temporarily relocate.

In other cases, it’s the farmer who needs to change his plans. Some Alberta farmland is of insufficient quality for sustainable crop production, while still being ideal for the ducks. Ducks Unlimited Canada, with funding from federal and provincial governments, can provide the farmer a financial incentive to convert land from annual crops to duck-friendly moderately grazed pasture or forage.

For many years, ducks were left to fend for themselves, as agriculture dominated the landscape. Now, with greater awareness of the needs of waterfowl, agriculture is lending a helping hand.

Says Calverley: “We couldn’t do our work without the cooperation of farmers in Alberta. I’m glad to say that, when they know what’s at stake, most are more than happy to help. That’s something the rest of us can appreciate.”