Southern Region E-Newsletter
April 2019
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A Message From the Regional Leadership Team
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A quote or two of note
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“….it has resulted in mallards remaining longer in the Midwest during their migration…Mallards now winter north of their former wintering areas.”
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“I think the time is coming when these men will insist on more and better answers than have yet been given by the (U.S. Fish and) Wildlife Service or Ducks Unlimited to the question ‘What has happened to our waterfowl?’.”
These quotes are not from hunters this year, though they certainly could be. The quotes are from
Wildfowling in the Mississippi Flyway
, published in 1949, and demonstrate the variability in waterfowl migration and frustration it has caused hunters for decades. DU must always seek to sharpen its understanding of why, where and when habitat is limiting to meet the mandates of our mission.
In the wake of a dismal duck season for many, waterfowlers are asking legitimate questions about waterfowl migration, population and distribution across the continent. In these times of high waterfowl numbers but unprecedented habitat changes on the continent, these questions are born from a legitimate curiosity and are healthy and warranted. However, when legitimate curiosity about the complex migration system shifts to simple narratives with single causes, we must be aware that we are potentially being deceived.
Waterfowl respond to climate, weather, habitat availability and hunting pressure to make the best living they can. Their mission here on the wintering grounds is not to die over our decoys, but to find a mate and secure enough energy to grow fat. These fat reserves are critical for the long journey north and the uncertainties of the nesting and brood rearing process.
Striving to meet the demands of our mission in the breeding, migration and wintering areas for all waterfowl species results in real outcomes for waterfowl. However, DU’s action-oriented culture means we are easy to criticize.
Regardless of those who stand on the sidelines and condemn those of us on the field, we will hold our heads high and do the right thing for waterfowl and waterfowlers alike. History will judge us by the results of our habitat work.
Those that attack the mission of this organization are harming the waterfowl resource that they purport to love. That is the definition of irony. The hunting community is a dwindling segment of society. Our social license to pursue the pastime we love beyond words is waning as society becomes more urban and focused on life through the screen instead of life itself. We must stand true in the continental habitat mission of this organization and recruit others to the cause.
There are givers and takers in the world of waterfowl and some are good at shouting about what they are against. I encourage you to meet them with a simple question, “What are you for?” Whether they support DU or not, they should
be for something
that contributes to waterfowl conservation! Be for a better world than the one you found. That’s the essence of Team DU.
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News From Around the Region
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America's River Initiative
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Walmart Foundation
Supports Water Conservation
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More Mississippi Alluvial Valley farmers can reduce groundwater use thanks to a grant from the Walmart Foundation. The $1 million grant complements $6.5 million from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support on-farm work through the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership.
Read More
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Delta National Forest Long Bayou GTR Restored
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DU has been working with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for several years to restore management capacity and infrastructure on Delta National Forest. Being one of the largest remaining contiguous tracts of mature bottomland hardwood forest in the Mississippi Delta and the only national forest composed entirely of bottomland hardwoods, Delta National Forest is a critical area for wildlife dependent on this ecosystem.
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Southern Prairies and Playas Initiative
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Oklahoma Public Land Expanded
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Two critical tracts will be added to the extremely popular Drummond Flats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) this summer. These are critical tracts as they were the only remaining areas in private ownership in the 4,000-acre basin.
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Southeast Wetlands Initiative
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Virginia Public Land Enhanced
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DU, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), recently completed construction on the first phase of a two-phase project on Hog Island Wildlife Management Area in Surry County. Hog Island WMA, one of the primary waterfowl complexes and historic colonial areas in Virginia, is a 1,300-acre state game land across the James River from Williamsburg, Virginia.
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Dewees Island Restoration
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Ducks Unlimited was selected by the Dewees Island Property Owners Association and the Dewees Island Conservancy to restore 250 acres of wetland habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds and marine fisheries. Partner and matching funds were used in combination with a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant to improve habitat within Lake Timicau on Dewees Island (photo by:
Judy Drew Fairchild)
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Read More
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New Texas Reservoir Opens
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The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) dedicated the Scott Arbuckle Reservoir, a new off-channel 1,000-acre reservoir outside of Lane City just south of Wharton, Texas, on Feb. 20
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Cameron Parish Gets Coastal Restoration Project
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DU and partners will restore more than 1,800 acres of coastal marsh on Cameron Parish School Board land and Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in the Calcasieu/Sabine Basin. Project funding comes from NAWCA, Fox & Baldwin LLC, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Axalta, Energy Transfer and DU.
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USFWS, DU Invest $25.8 Million in Three Texas Coastal Refuges
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“We’ll be working with the FWS to repair, replace and strengthen wetland management infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Harvey on McFaddin, Texas Point and Anahuac national wildlife refuges,” DU Manager of Conservation Programs Todd Merendino said. “In addition to improving habitat management capabilities, these projects will improve public access for hunting, fishing and wildlife observation through safe, accessible structures that can withstand increasing use by the public and better weather future storms.”
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Shane Lemons
Oklahoma DU Volunteer
“I try to get people to understand that DU is not just for duck hunters,” Shane said. “DU is for anyone who loves the resources that God has given us and shares a passion to preserve, protect, and restore those resources.”
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Bartels Family Featured in DU Films
The Bartels family has been dedicated to conservation for generations. They are some of Louisiana’s most ardent volunteers and sponsors. Check out the first of DU Films 2019 season featuring this fabulous family.
See the DU Film
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Oklahoma:
SR Director of Public Policy Ed Penny and State Chairman Richard Godfrey spent time in the Oklahoma Capitol with other sportsmen’s and conservation organizations discussing Senate Bill 703, authored by Sen. Casey Murdock (District 27). This bill would prohibit Oklahoma Dept of Wildlife Conservation from all future land acquisition, reduce public hunting and fishing opportunities and affect future waterfowl habitat projects in Oklahoma.
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Mississippi:
Southern Region Director of Public Policy Ed Penny delivered an address at the annual convention of the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts. He discussed DU’s Farm Bill priorities, DU’s accomplishments in the state and met with several members of the Mississippi state legislature.
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Pintail Research
Ducks Unlimited is supporting research on northern pintails in partnership with Texas A&M University – Kingsville, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The pintail is a species of greatest conservation need in many State Wildlife Action Plans and continues to be a species of focus in all four Flyways. This is a $1.6 million project designed to inform conservation and management efforts surrounding the northern pintail.
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DU receives Partnership Award from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Partnership awards honor key individuals, organizations, agencies and others outside the Texas A&M University system whose dedicated support and excellence have significantly enhanced the impact of Extension programming.
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Three Southern States Recognized for Continued Support of Canadian Habitat Conservation
Recognizing the migratory nature of waterfowl, state wildlife agencies have been contributing to habitat conservation in Canada, where most of the waterfowl that winter in the U.S. are produced each year, since 1965. Funding comes primarily through hunting license sales.
“The importance of state contributions to Canadian habitat conservation and restoration projects cannot be overstated,” said DU Canada’s Director of International Partnerships Pat Kehoe. “Individual state contributions are combined with other state contributions, matched dollar for dollar by DU Inc., used as match for North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants and then leveraged further by DU Canada.”
Three Southern Region states were recognized for their contributions at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Denver.
- Georgia – Bronze award for reaching $100,000 cumulative giving in FY19.
- Florida – Silver award for reaching $500,000 cumulative giving in FY19.
- North Carolina – 50 years of contributing to habitat conservation in Canada.
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Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards
DU’s Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards were presented at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Denver to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the restoration and conservation of North America’s wetlands and waterfowl.
Senior Federal Official - Sen. John Boozman
Elected to the Senate in 2011, Sen. John Boozman’s commitment to wetlands conservation has been extremely important to the work of Ducks Unlimited.
Federal Agency Employee - Sarah Mott
In recent times no one has had a greater impact on managing continental wetland conservation funding than Sarah Mott.
State/Provincial Employee - Dave Morrison
His service on numerous committees and the National Flyway Council, in addition to his duties with Texas Parks and Wildlife, cemented his legacy as a champion for waterfowl and wetland conservation.
Research/Technical - Dr. G. Scott Boomer
Dr. Boomer is a biologist with the Population and Habitat Assessment Branch, Division of Migratory Bird Management for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Scott’s work has affected every single duck hunter for the last 15 years.
Communications - Jim Ronquest
As a duck calling champion and television and radio host, Jim has influenced others to further youth education and conservation efforts.
Local/Private Conservation - Metroparks Toledo
By creating Howard Marsh Metropark, Metroparks Toledo is a shining example of how municipalities can be blend urban development with wildlife conservation.
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See what's going on around the country in the other Ducks Unlimited regions. Check out their e-newsletters.
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193 Business Park Drive, Ste. E
Ridgeland, MS 39157
1-601-956-1936
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