Duckology
What Do Ducks See?
What Do Ducks See? Here’s why ducks are adept at spotting shiny faces and fidgety Labs By Christy Sweigart and Angela Cook As we sit in the blind and anticipate the morning [...]
Unusual Nesters
Unusual Nesters Some birds go to wild lengths to hatch their eggs By Christy Sweigart Later this spring, somewhere in the deserts of western Nevada, common merganser ducklings will descend from their [...]
Waterfowl in Winter
Waterfowl in Winter Unique adaptations allow ducks to thrive in frigid conditions By Christy Sweigart As winter’s approach brings frigid winds, bleak temperatures, and dwindling food resources, ducks do whatever it takes [...]
Three Waterfowl Species Subject to be Renamed
Three Waterfowl Species Subject to be Renamed North American birds that were named after people will be given new monikers By Paul Wait The American Ornithological Society plans in 2024 to begin renaming [...]
Giving Ducks a Fighting Chance
Giving Ducks a Fighting Chance New trapping technique revolutionizing Delta’s Predator Management It seems a simple concept, at least on the surface: Fewer predators roaming the nesting grounds while feasting [...]
PPR Band Maps
Where Your Ducks Come From PPR Band Recovery Data Maps Every duck that comes to your hand arrives there with a story. It’s usually up to your imagination to guess where [...]
Dry conditions. Intensive Management.
Dry conditions. Intensive management. The spring 2021 breeding condition situation on the northern prairies is dry. This is rather bad news for ducks returning north to the prairie pothole region and looking to [...]
Water and Duck Production
Water and Duck Production Are larger bodies of water or smaller, seasonal ponds and pools more impactful for ducks? Delta's Dr. Frank gives you the facts about water and what it means for [...]
Factors that affect Duck Production
How Delta Makes Ducks Delta is focused on the key factors that affect duck production. Support Delta Waterfowl strategies that target effective, science-based duck production programs to secure the future of hunting. [...]
How to Reveal Hidden Numbers on Banded Birds
How to Reveal Hidden Numbers on Bird Bands Do you have an unreadable or blank bird band? Delta Waterfowl shows you how to make hidden numbers visible again with a 30 second process. [...]
Where Ducks Nest Affects Production
Where Ducks Nest Affects Production The achievement of pulling off a successful hatch relies heavily on where ducks choose to settle and nest in any given season. That's what drives duck numbers come [...]
Hen House Success!
Hen House Success! While making his usual rounds, Delta’s Matt Chouinard came across a Delta Hen House in the early stages of hatching a clutch of mallards. Learn what unfolds in the final [...]
Another Delta Hen House Success
Another Delta Hen House Success — Moments Leading to the Moment of Truth Success! While making his usual rounds, our Matt Chouinard came across a Delta Hen House in the early stages of [...]
The Delta Duck
The Delta Duck Meet the Delta Duck! In this quick video, president and chief science officer Dr. Frank Rohwer makes the cordial introductions to a hen mallard nesting within a few feet of the door to Delta's HQ offices in [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Renesting Frequency Among Upland Nesting Ducks
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Renesting Frequency Among Upland Nesting Ducks When a puddle ducks’ eggs are eaten by predators, nearly all species will renest and try again. Mallards are most prolific, renesting [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Nest Searching with Chains
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Nest Searching with Chains Nest searching … or “chain dragging” … is a simple and safe way to locate duck nests on the prairie. And it’s intriguing. Female [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Midsummer Molting
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Midsummer Molting The summer wing molt is a very unusual time for ducks. They gather up – dabblers and divers alike – migrate to a marsh with stable [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Nest Searching Surprise
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Nest Searching Surprise Nest searching on the North Dakota prairie gets especially exciting when a newly hatched nest of ducklings is discovered. Dr. Frank takes a few seconds [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Preferred Nesting Cover of Five Common Duck Species
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Preferred Nesting Cover of Five Common Duck Species The five most common ducks nesting in the uplands of the prairie pothole region are mallards, blue-winged teal, gadwall, shovelers, [...]
Hatched Versus Depredated Duck Eggs
Duckology with Dr. Frank: Hatched Versus Depredated Duck Eggs In this video Dr. Frank explains how to determine hatched versus depredated duck eggs.
Using Candling to Assess Incubation Stage
Duckology with Dr. Frank: Using Candling to Assess Incubation Stage Dr. Frank explains how Delta biologists use candling to assess a nest’s incubation stage.
Tracking Raccoons with Satellite Telemetry
Tracking Raccoons with Satellite Telemetry Delta Waterfowl is studying raccoon movements to increase the efficiency of Predator Management trapping.
Top Duck-Craving Predators
Top Duck-Craving Predators Delta Waterfowl is on a mission to fill every flyway. Support the Million Duck Campaign Today. When it comes to food-chain hierarchy, ducks are the rabbits of the [...]
Whose Nest Is It?
Whose Nest Is It? Tips from Delta’s president and chief science officer Frank Rohwer on identifying the nests of mallards, pintails, blue-winged teal, gadwall and shovelers.
Helping Eiders
Helping Eiders Researchers are deploying structures to raise nest success in Nova Scotia By Paul Wait Common eiders nesting on offshore islands of Nova Scotia are declining, and researchers are seeking ways [...]
To Catch a Coon
To Catch a Coon Delta Waterfowl studies raccoon movements to make trapping more efficient By Paul Wait Delta Waterfowl’s Predator Management trappers caught dozens of raccoons on the prairie breeding grounds [...]
Taking Flight with Ringnecks
Taking Flight with Ringnecks In this unique footage, veterinarians explain the process of surgically implanting satellite transmitters in hen ringnecks for Delta’s innovative ring-necked duck tracking research. Stay tuned: A new round [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank
Duckology with Dr. Frank: Using Drones to Find Broods This incredible aerial footage of duck broods illustrates the potential of Delta’s pioneering drone research to revolutionize waterfowl and nest surveys. [...]
How Weather Impacts Ringneck Migration
How Weather Impacts Ringneck Migration Tori Mezebish, a graduate student at the University of Georgia, explains how a lingering snow line delayed the spring migration of Delta’s radio-marked ring-necked ducks. [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – The Value of Ephemeral Wetlands in Cropland
The Value of Ephemeral Wetlands in Cropland When spring arrives on the prairies, the first ponds ducks use are sheet water wetlands in farm fields. This video describes the importance of [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – How Late-Arriving Springs Impact Duck Production
How Late-Arriving Springs Impact Duck Production Lingering winters can negatively affect early nesters such as pintails and mallards. However, this year there’s a silver lining. Dr. Frank Rohwer explains. [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Pheasant and Mallard Physiology
Mallard Versus Pheasant Physiology Many of you have enjoyed eating game birds: pheasants, quail, turkeys, ruffed grouse and the like, in addition to ducks. You know that these birds differ dramatically [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank – Cassis Duck
Cassis Duck: Simple and Tasty This video shows a simple way to make a delicious duck dinner. Honestly, the prep time is ridiculously short and the ingredients are super simple. I assure you [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank — Finding Steel Shot with Metal Detectors
Duckology with Dr. Frank — Finding Steel Shot with Metal Detectors Many of us love to eat duck, but worry about crunching down on steel shot and cracking teeth. The short video below proposes a solution. [...]
Flooded Timber and Thermal Imaging
Flooded Timber and Thermal Imaging This 40 second video shows some footage of mallards in a great piece of flooded bottomland hardwood timber in the heart of Arkansas. This shows [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank — Ring-neck Study
Duckology with Dr. Frank — Ring-neck Study The Ring-neck Project got its field start during the last few days in south Georgia. This short video shows some of the duck surgery, release [...]
Delta Drone Video 2
Delta’s Drone Video 2 – Preliminary Predator Counts with the Drone This short video shows three combined clips from Delta’s thermal drone. These videos were captured in Manitoba. You will see the capabilities [...]
Delta Drone Video 1
Delta Drone Video 1 - Initial Testing of the Thermal Camera This 2016 video shows the initial testing of a drone and thermal camera to detect nests of dabbling ducks. [...]
Grinding Big Canada Geese
Grinding Big Canada Geese Most goose populations are doing well – many growing so fast they are creating ecological or anthropogenic issues. The good news is that hunting opportunities have grown dramatically. [...]
Mallards: How to Distinguish Drakes from Hens in the Early Season
Mallards: How to Distinguish Drakes from Hens in the Early Season This week’s duckology reveals tips for how to most reliably distinguish male mallards from females during the early season. Up on [...]
Delta Decoy Hunt
Delta Decoy Hunt This thrilling footage puts you inside a layout boat as prime drake redheads pour into a spread of hand-carved decoys. The decoys were auctioned last year at Delta Waterfowl [...]
Delta’s Drone Traveler
Delta’s Drone Traveler Researcher Roald Stander searches for nesting birds using innovative science By Paul Wait Roald Stander’s ascension as a pilot has been a whirlwind experience. Literally. The 29-year-old University [...]
Duckology – Determining the Sex and Age Of Blue-winged Teal
Duckology - Determining the Sex and Age Of Blue-winged Teal Many states have teal seasons in September that allow harvest of blue-winged teal, which are very early migrants. In early fall, male [...]
Examining the Pintail Problem
Duckology - Examining the Pintail Problem You have probably heard that the federal regulations that guide waterfowl hunting have already been set for the 2017-18 season. Unfortunately, pintail limits will be one bird [...]
Banding Canada Geese
Duckology - Banding Canada Geese This time-lapse video shows the process of banding Canada geese — with some added flare from Delta photographer Fred Greenslade. The birds were banded near the Delta Marsh by a team led [...]
Duckology with Dr. Frank — Snow Goose Color
Duckology with Dr. Frank — Snow Goose Color Dr. Frank Rohwer explains color variations in snow geese.
Duck Bands: More Than Just Bling
Duck Bands: More Than Just Bling How simple metal bracelets continue to aid waterfowl conservation By Veronica Davison, USFWS Sacramento Fish & Wildlife Office With a cobalt blue, cloud-filled sky overhead, [...]
The Prey of Many
The Prey of Many By Paul Wait Michael Johnson monitors more trail cameras than even the most antler-obsessed, deer-hunting fanatic would ever dream of using. But the University of Minnesota master’s [...]
Fracking: No Problem for Fowl?
Fracking: No Problem for Fowl? By Paul Wait So maybe oil and waterfowl really do mix. For the past two summers, Delta Waterfowl research technicians have been searching for duck nests [...]
How to Determine a Mallard’s Age
How to Determine a Mallard’s Age By Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor Its head was Christmas green, its bill as yellow as the sun, and more than 20 years later I recall how [...]
Nest Searching Video: Duckology with Dr. Frank
Nest Searching Video: Duckology with Dr. Frank In this episode of 'Duckology with Dr. Frank' Delta Waterfowl's president Frank Rohwer explains how researchers locate duck nests on the prairies.
Nest Building Video: Duckology with Dr. Frank
Nest Building Video: Duckology with Dr. Frank In this episode of 'Duckology with Dr. Frank' Delta Waterfowl's president Frank Rohwer talks the nest building process for ducks.
Nest Success Video: Duckology with Dr. Frank
Nest Success Video: Duckology with Dr. Frank In this episode of 'Duckology with Dr. Frank' Delta Waterfowl's president Frank Rohwer explains the importance of monitoring nest success of ducks on the prairies. [...]
Video: Killer Coots?
Killer Coots? Delta Waterfowl researchers captured some surprising video during our Manitoba canvasback/overwater nesting duck study: Coots harassing canvasbacks, destroying nests and attempting to attack ducklings. A member of the rail family (they’re [...]