A boy scout releases a newly banded wood duck at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. - USFWS Photo

Many National Wildlife Refuges were established for the conservation of waterfowl and other migratory birds.  Duck banding has been an important activity on refuges since the 1940s to help assess the impact of harvesting and to gain a better understanding of the relationship of duck populations across several states.  In 2005, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge was tasked to continue this venture by banding wood ducks prior to the Fall waterfowl season.

On May 10, Refuge staff visited a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service easement area and banded 16 wood duck hens that were incubating eggs within artificial next boxes.  Remarkably, six of these hens were recaptures from a similar effort in 2003.  Then, beginning on August 11 and continuing through September 7, swim-in traps were utilized to capture ducks on Refuge land.

Volunteers augmented Refuge staff which allowed for both morning and evening banding.  Environmental education programs were offered throughout the banding season for the general public and the Boy and Girl Scouts of America.  For everyone, wildlife was literally at their fingertips and so was the opportunity to learn about habitat needs, nesting preferences, brood rearing and the role of the USFWS in water conservation.  These programs also helped the scouts fulfill a number of wildlife and environmental merit badge requirements.

Before its release, each duck was affixed with a USFWS leg band and properly aged and sexed.  In all, the 2005 banding effort yielded 87 wood ducks and 98 mallards with a significant number of recaptures both from the immediate area and other banding sites. 

For additional information about waterfowl banding at Minnesota Valley NWR, please contact Vicki Sherry, Wildlife Biologist, at 952.858.0723 or Ron Knopik, Biological Science Technician, at 952.858.0707.