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-- 2000 Season Summary -- 2001 Season Summary -- 2002 Season Summary -- 2003 Season Summary -- Related Links -- |
Drought Watch |
| Pintails nest on the prairies of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in large numbers when this region has abundant wetlands, referred to as "May Ponds" or "July Ponds," counted during respective breeding pair and brood surveys annually. When dry, however, large numbers of pintails "overfly" the prairies to northern regions, such as Alaska, Northwest Territories, and northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. While many pintails can be accommodated by this "bush country," pintails are not as productive there (they don’t fledge as many young ducks) as in the more fertile prairies to the south. Thus, one can predict the distribution of pintails ahead of the spring migration by determining where the spring/summer water is on the prairies. To do this, take a look at the drought maps available at http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/default.htm, http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/ccrm/bulletin/, and http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/perspectives.html and the snow cover information at www.socc.ca/snow/snow_current.cfm Pintails will head to the wetter areas. See if your predictions turn out to be correct by checking them against actual migration of the pinsat birds. |
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