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Richard:
Rather than debate on who is "up" on things, I would point out that the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) regulates Waterfowl Hunting throughout the country. Local state wildlife organizations partner with USFWS in management of waterfowl resources. USFWS conducts spring breeding bird surveys, pond surveys in the prairie pot hole regions (where the largest percentage of ducks and geese are grown), flyway surveys and other extensive analysis to determine duck, geese and swan populations. They utilize all of the data gathered to determine when, where, what and how many waterfowl can be harvested by waterfowl hunters.
Interestingly enough, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was the first established in the nation. Reading of its history at http://refuges.fws.gov/profiles/History.cfm?ID=65530 Can be educational and informative. Here is the opening paragraph on its history: Euro-American settlers learned the art of irrigation and began to divert water from the Bear River for agricultural purposes. The 45,000 acres of delta marshes dwindled to 3,000 acres by 1920. Extensive loss of marsh acreage and subsequent concentration of waterfowl flocks into the few remaining wet acres in the Bear River delta set the stage for severe botulism outbreaks. In the early 1900s, waterfowl died by the millions from what was termed locally as "alkali poisoning" (now known as avian botulism). Records show that 2 million birds died in a 1910 outbreak and another 1.5 million died in a 1920 outbreak.
Local citizens recognized that conservation measures needed to be initiated to ensure future hunting opportunities. Sportsmen rallied to the cause and petitioned Congress to establish a wildlife refuge to preserve the Bear River delta marshes (bold highlight is mine). The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was established in 1928 by Presidential Proclamation as "a suitable refuge, feeding and breeding grounds for migratory wild fowl."
This brief synopsis illustrates that settlers were destroying the wetlands, as they diverted water for irrigation and sportsmen saw that conservation measures were necessary to preserve those remaining wetlands. The sportsmen took action and worked on getting lasting legislation enacted. Hunters do understand their role as conservationist and have accomplished much since the 1929 Migratory Bird Conservation Act and duck stamp was originated in 1934. They have raised $675 million and purchased 5 million acres of wetlands for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
As I understand it, the Brant found at BRMBR was the only one present. I believe it is the only one ever recorded in Utah. However, there are thousands more Brant in their usual coastal ocean habitat, thanks to sportsmen and their conservation efforts.
Regards,
Bill Fenimore
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Northern Regional Advisory Council
At Large Representative |