Ducks harvested by hunters in the Saskatchewan River Delta have given scientists new insight into the migration patterns of North American waterfowl. (Image by M. Carriere)
A recent analysis of feathers collected from five duck species indicated a boreal habitat origin place, and confirmed the importance of the Saskatchewan River Delta as a key migration stopover for North American waterfowl. This research involved extensive collaboration between scientists and hunters. Hunters collected feather samples from 236 ducks around the delta during migration periods in 2013 and 2014. Researchers then analyzed the isotopes in feather samples. These isotopes revealed a lot of information about the ducks’ life cycle: from latitude, to diet, to their birthplace.
Authors:
Christian K. Asante, Timothy D. Jardine, Steven L. Van Wilgenburg, and Keith A. Hobson
Corresponding author:
Keith Hobson, Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, Email: khobson6@uwo.ca
Original paper published in The Condor: Ornithological Applications on April 19, 2017.
