Goldeneyes

[PJ Maguire]

I have seen a few Goldeneyes this summer in Northern MN at the cabin. Anyone else see any of these or think there are more hanging around then normal?

[LandDr]

My personal observation is that there are more diver ducks last year and maybe this year as well.

My thought is "ducks like food"...and they will follow the food sources.

When there is alot of rain in the fall and the fields flood, especially out west MN, the flyway literally moves over.

Last year's dry summer lowered the water levels.  With that, more sunlight could get to the bottom of the pond to germinate plants like Sago, Celery and Wild Rice.  I seen more wild rice last year than I have in a long time...and I seen rice in ponds that I have never seen it!  I also seen more ducks!  Go figure...more food...more ducks!

The lower water levels will also create conditions of more fish kills in shallow ponds and lakes.  That reduces the predation on small invertebrates which results in more food for the divers feed on.  Fish kills with rough fish also result in less turbidity which allows more sunlight to the bottom...which then germinates more plants...which creates more surface area for algae to grow on...which creates more food for the invertebrates...which creates more food for the ducks!  Nice how the food chain is replaced.

There was a tremendous crop of wild rice up north last year due to the lower water levels.  Alot, and I mean alot, of that wild rice got shattered into the water due to the high winds and hard rains right when the rice hardened up.  There should be another bumper crop of wild rice if the water levels due not get to high.

I would be nice to get some reports from people around the state on what they are seeing for aquatic plants, inverts in the water and duck kinds and numbers.  We are a few inches low on rain and I know our wild rice is looking REALLY good so far!  I have run a dip net through the vegetation yet to see how the 10 gallons of shrimp are doing that we installed in February.  I also not been over to my Sago/shrimp pond east of Glenwood to see how that is doing.  I will try to get over there soon and give a report.

Have a good weekend!

Kyle, PLM
www.HabitatNOW.com

[PJ Maguire]

I'll tell you what LandDr. I drove through Fregus the other day and I saw more ducks than geese. Which in the past is usually opposite.

[Cody Gruchow]

they seem to disappear just before opener though