Putting Jewelry onto Ducks !!

A researcher plans to band 1200 Cinnamon Teal in the Western US, and our refuge was asked to band at least 300 to contribute to that effort. Our summer interns departed last week, and Teri and I have been asked to assist with the duck banding effort. 

There is quite a lot involved with trapping, identifying, banding and releasing the ducks.

First, some equipment.  The traps are located out in ponds, and we have to wade out to retrieve the ducks.  The ponds have soft muddy bottoms, so I was issued a pair of waders. They fit tightly around my ankles, have a strap that goes around my calf, and another that attaches to my belt.  All good things as the muddy bottom is constantly trying to suck them off of my feet!!

Boots off, Waders on...

Very Stylish

The area around the trap site is baited with barley, and the bait has to be replenished every day, So we take about 30 pounds of barley out to each trap every morning.

Two of the trap sites are a ways off of the road, so everything gets loaded onto a large ATV.  Teri drives is out while Dean (the refuge biotech) and I walk out. We have waders, but Teri doesn't!!

We get as close to the trap as we can, and load up a sled/float with the cage, barley, net and other gear that we need to retrieve the ducks, and then it's out into the mud. 

Across the Mud...

And into the Water.

Check out the mud that we have to get across to go out, and come back across when we come back in. The footing is really awful.

Mud, mud, everywhere.

We transfer the ducks from the trap to a wire cage, and then haul them back to shore to do the identification and banding.

The long walk back.

A cage full of ducks.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll show you what we do with the ducks back on shore.  I promise some up-close duck pictures!!

Mark