Waterfowl ID Class Coming

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are continuing with year two of a wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement project for species of concern along the Missouri River System in North Dakota.

In late August or early September, the corps will use helicopters to spray herbicides on approximately 85 acres of vegetation, covering portions of three sandbars south of Bismarck on Lake Oahe. The herbicides are EPA approved for spraying in or adjacent to water and are intended to kill vegetation on the sandbars.

After the islands are sprayed, the dead vegetation will be removed by mowing or cutting equipment. Weather permitting, spraying is scheduled for the last week of August, and dead vegetation will be removed this fall or in the spring.

Last year, vegetation was removed from 150 acres of sandbars south of Bismarck on Lake Oahe, primarily for two shorebird species – endangered least terns and threatening piping plovers – that depend on bare sandbars for nesting habitat.

Steve Dyke, NDGFD conservation supervisor, said several of the sandbars treated in 2006 had birds nesting on them this summer.

“Most of this year’s spraying is to retreat portions of islands that were sprayed last year,” Dyke said.

Russ Somsen, with the corps office in Pierre, S.D., indicated his agency will continue to monitor the sites for several years to evaluate effectiveness and see if birds use the sandbars that have been treated.

– North Dakota Game and Fish Department

Waterfowl hunters who want to hone their field identification techniques are invited to participate in a waterfowl identification class from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge.

The class will feature information on field observation techniques, using binoculars, decoys, recognizing wing beat patterns and more. There will be an opportunity to identify duck species from wings that have been collected from harvested ducks, and participants will be able to ask questions about waterfowl hunting regulations.

This class will be limited to 15 participants, who must register by calling 701-442-5474, ext. 17, by Sept. 7.

– Audubon National Wildlife Refuge

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