A side note: Mississippi Duck Band recoveries from 1990 to 2000 illustrated that 69% of our ducks came from:
Alberta 7%
Saskatchewan 42%
Manitoba 20%
Early Spring Habitat Conditions in Canada
April 21, 2005
Waterfowl arrived at the beginning of April in many parts of southern Canada. British Columbia has received little precipitation in the past month and conditions range from good to fair in the province. Conditions are still fair-poor in the Alberta and Saskatchewan prairies, but range from good to very good in the central and northern regions of these provinces. Habitat conditions in Manitoba range from good to very good. In southern Ontario, conditions have worsened somewhat, but habitats are largely good to very good in the remainder of eastern Canada.
The snow has melted in British Columbia, and with the exception of the coast, there has been little precipitation throughout much of the province in the past month. Habitat conditions are rated good along the coast and in the Peace region, and are poor in the far northeast. Conditions range from good-fair to fair in the Interior. Migration was approximately 2 weeks early in the province this year, and there is an abundance of waterfowl in the province’s Interior.
Good runoff existed in much of Alberta in early April due to a good frost seal and an early prolonged thaw combined with a good snow pack. After receiving an additional 6-12 inches of snow following the initial melt, habitat conditions are better in central Alberta than they have been in years, and are rated good to very good with isolated areas rated fair. Basins that have not held water in more than 5 years are now refilling in this area. In the prairies, conditions are still fair-poor, with slightly better conditions in the west. Waterfowl arrived in significant numbers in the Parkland region in the first few days of April.
Runoff was well underway in Saskatchewan at the beginning of April, and warmer than average temperatures continue to be the trend. The prairies, including the Missouri Coteau, are still dry and conditions are rated fair-poor, although some recent precipitation has improved conditions. Habitat conditions in the parklands including the Alan Hills are rated as good this spring.
Already favourable habitat conditions in southwestern Manitoba were improved following a series of snowstorms in late March. Conditions are also very good in south-eastern Manitoba, and minor flooding occurred in some southern portions of the province in early April. Significant numbers of white-fronted geese were present in the south-western Manitoba early in the month.
Most of the Western Boreal Forest experienced some snow accumulation in the past month - with some higher elevation areas in the Yukon, north-eastern British Columbia, and northern Alberta receiving significant moisture. Overall, snow accumulation was average to above average in the western boreal forest. Spring habitat conditions and prospects for breeding are good to very good in most of the boreal.
Timely and sustained rainfall has slightly improved spring habitat conditions across parts of southern Ontario. While early spring weather has been mild, it has also been uncharacteristically dry. As such, seasonal habitats were generally in fair condition throughout much of the southern region of the province. Recent precipitation events, however, recharged many of these habitats in the south-central area of Ontario. Permanent wetlands continue to be at full supply and have only recently become ice-free. The snowpack across northern Ontario is quickly disappearing, but wetland habitats remain ice-covered. Ice-out was unusually late throughout the lower Great Lakes, which affected early migrant use of many of the traditional staging areas, and many birds carried on through with limited stopovers. Spring habitat conditions are generally rated as fair to good in the south-central region of the province but are in poorer shape in the southwestern and southeastern extremes, while northern Ontario conditions consistently range from good to very good.
Conditions in Quebec range from good in the south to very good in the more northern regions. The province received a fair amount of snow at the beginning of March, but finished the month with approximately 25 % to 40 % less snow on the ground than normal.
Wetland conditions are very good in the Maritimes. Spring conditions are normal and spring rains have been plentiful and wetlands are full to overflowing.
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