Good News for Duck Hunters with Dr. Mike Brasher of Ducks Unlimited

It’s late July, and much of the country is in the midst of a heat wave, but Aaron and Bill are back talking ducks with Dr. Mike Brasher from Ducks Unlimited. Waterfowl are both a vocation and advocation for Mike as he’s spent his career studying and his free time hunting them. For the last two years, COVID protocols in Canada have prevented the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from conducting the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (known to duck hunters as the BPOP and May Pond Count). This survey is used to set future seasons. The 2022 flights have wrapped up, and Mike is here to help us understand what the initial reports could mean to duck hunters all over the country. And for the first time in several years, there’s some positive news!

Links:

https://www.ducks.org/media/du-podcast

https://fws.gov/library/collections/2022-waterfowl-breeding-population-and-habitat-surveys-field-reports

And here’s a photo page from the folks who actually count the ducks:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pilotbiologist/albums/with/72157706996280821

Show notes:

3:40 – Bill introduces Mike and provides a little insight into his background and what we are going to cover in the show regarding ducks and how ducks are counted.

5:25 – Mike introduces himself with a little more detail.

7:19 – Mike, Bill and Aaron share what they have been doing outside recently.

13:40 – Jumping right into B-POP (Breeding Population Survey) but first, let’s clarify that we are not talking about K-POP.

14:21 – What is B-POP and why should duck hunters understand it?

19:13 – Laying out the mechanics of how big the count is, where do they fly and how are we doing with the trajectory of current population counts.

24:27 – Discussing the word “census” and why this count isn’t a census.

28:23 – What are the results?!

35:05 – Why have biologists been concerned, drought in the western U.S. and how are the numbers doing down south?

41:27 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen! Be sure to follow NWF Outdoors on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for even more great content.

42:20 -- Because the count hasn’t happened for a few years, what was the approach this year?

46:39 -- Discussing the scientific approach to climate issues as they relate to duck populations, trajectory, warming trends and droughts.

53:33 -- Discussing the significance of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and recently introduced North American Grasslands Act. How does this legislation relate to natural infrastructure, habitat restoration and resilience.

1:00:23 -- With fresh water and fresh habitat, what does that mean for the productivity of waterfowl? Also, a few reflections on the current count numbers and what that might mean for the upcoming duck hunting season.

1:07:33 – Mike shares some closing statements.

1:10:24 – Ducks Unlimited U.S. and Ducks Unlimited Canada are teaming up soon to do a livestream!

1:12:53 – Bill shares some closing statements.

1:13:18 – Please speak up on behalf of shutting down the Return Act, the swift passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and the North American Grasslands Act. Get engaged, stay engaged and look for folks like Mike for guidance.