Satellites Tracking Ducks

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SATELLITES TRACKING DUCK MOVEMENT…HUNTERS FOLLOW PATH ON INTERNET
by Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com
December 10th, 2004

First there was Robo Duck. Now comes “Radio Duck”.

Several mallards sporting radio transmitters are now helping biologists and hunters track movement via satellites. Duck hunting has indeed entered the age of space technology. Who’d a thought it?

In yet another season of unpredictable duck migrations and disappointing season starts down south, a group of mallards are helping to tell the story. Every day duck hunters wonder where the ducks are but up until now it has been somewhat of a guess.

Now, you can log onto the Internet and find out where these mallards are and formulate an idea of movement or lack thereof. It’s interesting and very intriguing, to say the least.

Here’s the scoop from Arkansas Game and Fish Department, along with Ducks Unlimited’s Southern Region information site.

During spring 2004, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists placed satellite transmitters on 28 mallards. These transmitters weigh only 30 grams (less than 10% of a duck's body weight), and are designed to fit as a backpack. They communicate with satellites in orbit around the earth to determine their locations. The ability to communicate with satellites also allows AGFC to collect data without recapturing the animal. The transmitter only becomes active for a short period of time every two to four days. During the active period it collects as many locations as possible within the pre-programmed time frame. The acquired locations are then sent to the AGFC, where the duck's progress is mapped using Geographical Information System (GIS).

The idea for this project emerged in fall 2003. After much planning, the AGFC began the pilot project this year. Depending on the success of this small group of 28 ducks, as many as 50 ducks may be tracked during 2005. This research could continue for up to 10 years depending on the quality of data gained from the transmitters.

1)      Track movements and distribution of migrating female mallards in spring. Describe habitat characteristics of principle spring staging areas, nesting areas and post-nesting areas of adult female mallards migrating from Arkansas (Mississippi Alluvial Valley).

   2) Track movements and distribution of migrating female mallards in fall. Determine proportionate use of fall migration corridors, staging areas and dispersal relative to habitat conditions.

   3) Track movements and determine distribution and habitat use within Arkansas.

   4) Determine use of spring migration corridors (e.g. Mississippi Flyway or Central Flyway), spring staging areas, nesting areas and post-nesting dispersal relative to habitat conditions.

   5) Estimate efficiency of May survey to account for mallards migrating from Arkansas (Mississippi Alluvial Valley) by estimating distribution of marked adult female mallards between surveyed and unsurveyed regions during the May surveys.

Each transmitter has a battery life of approximately one year. After the battery has been exhausted the transmitter will become permanently inactive.

The AGFC hopes to track movements and distribution of migrating female mallards in spring. Following these birds will help define habitat characteristics of principle spring staging areas, nesting areas and post-nesting areas of adult female mallards migrating from Arkansas. The AGFC also hopes to track movements and distribution of fall migrating female mallards. This will provide data on use of migration corridors in fall, staging areas and dispersal relative to habitat conditions. The program will also track movements and determine distribution and habitat use within Arkansas.

Without the use of satellite transmitters, researchers would not be able to trace the movements of individual birds over such an expansive geographic area. This technology became available in the early 1990s, but only recently has it been miniaturized for use with small birds such as the mallard. Three NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) polar orbiting weather satellites detect the transmitter signals. These are the same satellites that help forecast the weather, detect forest fires, and monitor volcanic eruptions.

If you’d like to monitor the movement of these mallards log onto www.agfc.com where the website will direct you to a link. From there you’ll enter your email address and zip code. Then, a map will come up showing the specific location of each duck.

This week, all but one of the mallards were still up north and well above their normal wintering grounds. That reinforces what hunters are seeing, or not seeing, below the Mason-Dixon Line as many ducks are still to the north and scattered due to warm weather and recent flooding where thousands of acres are inundated with water.

Presently, ducks are quite scattered throughout west Tennessee, west Kentucky, southeast Missouri, and eastern Arkansas due to backwater in the aftermath of heavy rains.

Somewhat cooler weather is expected by the weekend, which should stimulate some movement. Meanwhile, there’s too much water and not enough ducks for most hunters down south who are waiting and hoping for better things to come.

Steve McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications.

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