The Ducks Unlimited Podcast

Dr. Scott Stephens rejoins host Dr. Mike Brasher to continue their discussion about DU Canada’s conservation programs in the Canadian Prairies. This episode describes some of the new conservation partnerships that DU Canada is forging within the farming and ranching communities, and how these efforts are delivering mutually beneficial outcomes. Scott also discusses opportunities within the broader ecosystem services arena. We also get a sneak peek at how wetland conditions are shaping up as...

Friend and colleague Dr. Scott Stephens, DU Canada, joins Dr. Mike Brasher to discuss some of the important habitat conservation work being undertaken to benefit breeding waterfowl in the Canadian Prairies. This discussion highlights some of the historical and traditional programs that DU Canada has used to protect and restore priority wetlands and grasslands for waterfowl but also introduces exciting new programs that are being used to increase DU’s capacity to conserve waterfowl habitats....

Dr. Mike Brasher is joined in studio by a trio of special guests to discuss trends in waterfowl hunter numbers and the importance of recruiting our next generation of hunter-conservationists. Former DU Chief Scientist Dale Humburg, University of Nebraska PhD student Katherine Graham, and Professor of Human Dimensions Research Dr. Chris Chisznski share their expertise on this subject and provide insights gained from recently completed research. www.ducks.org

In the final installment of this special series on waterfowl harvest estimation, Drs. Kathy Fleming and Paul Padding discuss the 2 critical surveys that are part of this process: Migratory Bird Hunter Survey and Parts Collection Survey. This episode sheds light on how these data are collected and used, and why none of this would be possible without the interest, cooperation, and participation by hunters. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Host Chris Jennings is joined by Jay Anglin, DU Great Lakes Migration Editor, to discuss light goose migrations into Illinois and Indiana. The two also talk about Arkansas goose numbers and opportunities for hunters to take advantage of these late hunts. Download, subscribe, and rate the DU Podcast. https://www.ducks.org/dupodcast

In part 2 of this series on waterfowl harvest estimation, Drs. Kathy Fleming and Paul Padding go in-depth on the Harvest Information Program, known to most people simply as “HIP,” to explain how it works and how the data are used to select hunters for participating in the core surveys from which harvest is estimated. We also discuss additional uses of waterfowl harvest data. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Waterfowl hunters harvest 12–14 million ducks and 3 million geese annually in the U.S. The process used to estimate annual waterfowl harvest has several components and relies on the cooperation and participation by State wildlife agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and most importantly waterfowl hunters. Drs. Kathy Fleming and Paul Padding of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service join Dr. Mike Brasher to help explain the harvest estimation process and some of the important uses of...

Kevin Kraai, Waterfowl Program Leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department joins the podcast to discuss the history of the Texas Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey and results from the most recent survey in January 2020. We learn about the numerous ecoregions and important waterfowl habitats across the state of Texas and converse about notable observations in duck and goose abundance from the survey. The 2020 survey revealed the 3 highest state-wide estimate for dabbling ducks since 1997....

Host Chris Jennings is joined by Jay Anglin, Great Lakes migration editor for ducks.org. Anglin brings to light some interesting observations by hunters throughout the region, including an influx of white-fronted geese and light geese into southern Illinois and Indiana. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Amelia Raquel, DU Biologist from California, for a discussion about waterfowl habitats and conservation in Southern Oregon and Northeastern California, also known as SONEC. Although an arid landscape, wetland habitats provided in the SONEC region are continentally some of the most important for fall and spring migrating waterfowl. Listen in for an introduction to DU conservation efforts in the region. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Dr. Mike Schummer, SUNY-ESF, rejoins the show with host Dr. Mike Brasher to provide a late season update on prevailing weather patterns in the eastern U.S. and how these have influenced waterfowl migration since the outbreak of cold weather in November. We wade into a discussion about large-scale atmospheric patterns that affect weather across the U.S. with a specific focus on the “polar vortex.” The show concludes with advice on how hunters can adapt their strategies in the face of weather...

Host Christ Jennings is joined by John Pollmann, Ducks Unlimited freelance contributor, to discuss the best practices to plan and execute a youth hunt. Pollmann goes into detail regarding his Sept/Oct feature from DU Magazine and talks about his personal experiences hunting with his young son. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. Rocky Rockwell and learn about the lasting effects of hyperabundant snow geese on Arctic habitats and their potential for recovery. We then discuss other interesting research at La Perouse Bay including goose productivity, drones, bear ecology, sea ice, and the genetic analysis of bear poop. We conclude with sage advice from Dr. Rockwell about learning from and working with the animals and the people around us. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Light goose populations in North America have grown exponentially since the 1960s. The famed goose colony at La Perouse Bay, Manitoba, became the epicenter for studying this explosive growth and its damaging effects on Arctic ecosystems. In this episode, Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by special guests Drs. Rocky Rockwell and Tom Moorman to discuss the emergence of this issue, along with other topics including the evolution of white and blue phases of snow geese and their increasing...

Widely considered the most successful wildlife conservation plan on the planet, for over 30 years the North American Waterfowl Management Plan has set the bar for effective and relevant partner-based conservation of an internationally shared resource. Hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher are joined by Dale Humburg for a discussion about the evolution and legacy of the NAWMP. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Former DU Chief Scientist, Dale Humburg, joins hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher to discuss the history and significance of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) in shaping international waterfowl conservation as we know it today. Ambitious in scale and intent, the NAWMP was signed in 1986 and immediately created a bold new vision for waterfowl conservation in North America. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Houston Havens, Waterfowl Program Coordinator for Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, joins Dr. Mike Brasher and Chris Jennings to discuss results from Mississippi’s December aerial waterfowl surveys. Listen in to learn about the history of Mississippi’s survey effort, the latest on duck numbers in the state, and what biologists are saying about the effects of 2019’s prolonged summer flooding on waterfowl habitat conditions this winter. www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Mike Casazza rejoins the show to continue our discussion about cutting edge radio telemetry and its importance to waterfowl science. Specific topics on this episode include new estimates of waterfowl flight speed and why this is important, unexpected movements and behaviors of waterfowl, and what a hunter should do if they harvest a bird outfitted with a transmitter. https://www.ducks.org/dupodcast

Since its introduction to wildlife research in the mid-20th century, radio telemetry has enabled scientists and conservationists to understand waterfowl behaviors and ecology at levels previously not imagined. In this episode, co-hosts Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher are joined by Research Biologist Mike Casazza to learn about the history, advancements, capabilities, and unique insights obtained from modern-day radio telemetry. Download and subscribe to follow along with all things...

Previously published (Ep. 9 – 10) Host Dr. Mike Brasher discusses interesting research being done on urban mallards and the role they play in hunter harvest with Dr. Ben O’Neal. O’Neal serves as a wildlife ecology professor at Franklin College just south of Indianapolis and is studying the impacts of urban mallards in relation to harvest opportunities for hunters near metro areas. Download and subscribe to follow along with all things waterfowl as the DU Podcast brings the resource to...