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Environment Canada's Habitat Monitoring Program Supports Waterfowl Conservation

December 14, 2010 | Posted by AB NAWMP

Each year, Mike Watmough, a Wildlife Biologist with the Environment Canada’s (EC) Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) in the Prairie and Northern Region, conducts field work monitoring waterfowl habitats on the Canadian Prairies.

Working closely with wildlife biologists from the provinces and non-governmental organizations, Mike monitors waterfowl habitats for the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture, a partnership between public and private agencies who deliver the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). The Plan’s goal is to conserve migratory birds throughout the continent and return waterfowl populations to their 1970s levels by conserving wetland and upland habitat.

“We map habitats and look at certain elements like native grassland conversion or wetland drainage. The objective is to keep track of what types of land use are changing and what pressures are on the habitats so correct conservation efforts can be applied,” says Mike.

Monitoring projects look at both natural and human-made habitat changes, the latter having the biggest impacts on waterfowl populations. In the last few years, the equipment used in the field to monitor waterfowl habitats has gone high-tech.

“I’m using a high-precision Global Positioning System, satellite imagery and digital aerial photography,” explains Mike.

As part of his position, Mike is required to meet with numerous landowners throughout the year to seek permission to access their property during field work.

Mike also assists with the annual waterfowl breeding population survey – a long-standing joint program between the CWS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that tracks population trends of many waterfowl species.

Mike enjoys working closely with other organizations and admits that a team environment gives him good exposure to the different types of conservation efforts being applied across the region.

“My work is very rewarding. The data I collect is helping to implement conservation that is making a difference,” says Mike.

To learn more about how EC’s habitat monitoring program is helping to conserve waterfowl populations visit the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture website (available in English only).

Article reproduced with permission © Martin Schmoll

(Mike Watmough, a Wildlife Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service in the Prairie and Northern Region, conducts field work monitoring waterfowl habitats on the Canadian Prairies.)

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