Birds aren’t fish, and ducks aren’t trout. But for anyone interested in the conservation of these sporting species, a lot can be learned from a recent podcast put out by Ducks Unlimited.
The show features an engaging conversation regarding ongoing empirical research on migratory birds. A story that is not unfamiliar to those who pay attention to the protection of salmonids, scientists are seeing significant impacts as farmed ducks breed with wild bird populations. We’ve seen the impacts of selective breeding on everything from dogs to salmon. And while your purse-sized Pomeranian might be cute, factory-farmed sockeye are a real environmental risk.
There are some real interesting data-driven observations mentioned in the podcast. Analysis of mallard DNA has revealed the reason for both morphological and behavioral changes in the Atlantic flyway over the past century. Also, certain conclusions that had been chalked up to climate change seem to have more to do with the rapid alteration of genetics.
Ducks and trout share a lot more than the need for clean water. Our management (and mismanagement) of their populations over the decades is often intertwined. Bag limits, land use, and even the regulation of herbicides overlap for both kinds of animals.
Even if you’re not into duck hunting or birds in general, this brief podcast is worth listening to. It features people who have a real interest in their subject (they’re hunters), are challenging narratives (they’re following the data), and can communicate so that we can understand (they want the public on board).