Nov 26, 2021Spotlighting our Migratory Bird Program EmployeesAn Interview with Nicole Virella Maldonado, Biologist and Grant Administrator Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up and what was your family life like? I’m the oldest of two girls, and I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico in more of a suburban area. During the…Biologist4 min read
Nov 10, 2021Banding Ducks in North DakotaBy William Moody Man, how the time flew by during my detail banding ducks! We were banding birds south of Devils Lake, ND. We had a slow start to patterning our target waterfowl, and the incredibly unpredictable weather definitely didn’t help. We were in rain gear, cold weather gear, and…Birds2 min read
Nov 3, 2021Waterfowl Banding in North DakotaBy Hunter Bertrand This summer I was very fortunate to join a waterfowl banding crew for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Our three-man crew included crew leader Stephen Chandler, William Moody, and myself. …Birds2 min read
Nov 1, 2021When The Cat’s Away, The Ducks Will…By Steve Olson and Chris Cain Another year, but the same story. Like last year, both our breeding waterfowl and habitat survey and banding program in Canada was canceled. At least we knew we could return to the South-central desert wetlands of Oregon for another season of mallard mayhem though…Waterfowl2 min read
Nov 1, 2021Waterfowl Banding at Lacreek National Wildlife RefugeBy Terry Liddick The waterfowl banding season in southwest South Dakota started this year much like it did in 2020 — another year that the pandemic prohibited us from going to Canada to our traditional banding locations. However, it was quite different than 2020 as the prairies of North and…Birds5 min read
Oct 29, 2021Banding Waterfowl in South Dakotaby Phil Thorpe To play off a Beatles classic…and due to circumstances beyond our control, banding in 2021 once again finds us…“Back in the U.S., back in the U.S., back in the U.S.A.” While I missed orchestrating and coordinating the annual U.S. — Canada cooperative waterfowl banding operation in Saskatchewan…Waterfowl4 min read
Oct 29, 2021Banding Waterfowl in MaineSarah Yates and Anthony Roberts This year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting mitigations, the branch had to again organize and plan for domestic waterfowl banding operations. I am from Maine and Tony is currently located in Vermont, so we returned to Aroostook County, Maine to help the Atlantic…Biologist2 min read
Oct 29, 2021Tough Shoes to Fill…by Dave Fronczak This year my fellow crew member, Kyle Point, and I conducted waterfowl banding operations in North-central North Dakota. This area has been a powerhouse for waterfowl banding in North Dakota since the 1930’s. …Waterfowl2 min read
Oct 29, 2021Time to FlySteve Barlow In my first 5 months as a new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pilot Biologist, I have experienced many firsts, learned a ton, and have already created more memories than most people do in five years. This past month proved to be no exception. I found myself a…Birds3 min read
Oct 29, 2021Different Place, Same Results…Oh SnapBy Walt Rhodes Dealing with change is merely a state of mind. When it comes to banding waterfowl you had better have the right one. A lot of people have a hard time facing change. It does not matter whether it is the simple rearrangement of the living room furniture…Waterfowl3 min read
