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PROJECTSCompiled by Monica Hazelton CONSERVATION COMMITTEE REPORT 2006 INTERNATIONAL WILD WATERFOWL NEWSLETTERS 1982 - WHITE-HEADED DUCK PROJECT 1980 - PROBLEM OF AIR FREIGHT RATE TULE GOOSE BREEDING GROUNDS PROTECTED l990 - THE GREAT BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WHITE-WINGED WOOD DUCK PROJECT WATERFOWL NESTING HABITAT IMPROVEMENT ON ZUNI RESERVATION MISSION RIDGE RETIREMENT HOME WATERFOWL PROJECT MOUNTAIN BLUE DUCK ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PROGRAM FRIENDS OF THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE SOCIETY TUBERCULOSIS TEST FOR WHITE-WINGED WOOD DUCKS SWAN MORTALITY STUDY IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ONCE COMMON/NOW RARE CONSERVATION PROJECT ORINOCO GOOSE NEST BOX PROJECT INTERNATIONAL WILD WATERFOWL NEWSLETTERS The Board of Directors authorized the publication of a newsletter in 1978. This has proved to be a great idea since it has served as a means of communication among the membership during the time between the yearly conventions. The first newsletter editor was Frank Todd, and it was ably done considering that Frank received very little assistance from the membership. Mike Lubbock volunteered to assist Frank in 1981. Scott Dreishman assumed the responsibility for the editing of the newsletter in 1982. Scott did a professional job of the editing, but help from the membership was still lacking. A triumvirate took responsibilities for the newsletter in 1985. The co-editors were Jack M. Kiracofe, Carolyn Emerick and Ed Diebold. A new format was developed at this time so that the newsletter took on the appearance of a bulletin with an attractive cover. The officers and directors were listed on the inside of the front cover and the purposes of the association were given on the inside of the back cover. A new feature on the back pages was the listing of free classified advertising from members. It was determined to establish a regular publication schedule and it became a bi-monthly bulletin. The newsletter was improved by this format. Wendi Schendel and Carolyn Emerick volunteered to edit the newsletter in 1988. They continued the fine quality of the publication. Ray Gwynes became editor of the newsletter in 1990 and continued the excellent quality of the material in our newsletter, but still had to plead for articles from the membership. The newsletter was a quarterly publication at this time. Ray continued to edit and publish the Newsletter until 2002. Subsequently Ali Lubbock and Jane Dawson have edited newsletters.
Over the history of IWWA dissemination of information on the biology, conservation, and husbandry of waterfowl and cranes has been an important activity. Some of the early publications have been well described in the narrative of Section 1. These descriptions will not be repeated here but they will be listed. More recent projects or ones not discussed in Section 1 will have further detail.
Steve Wylie, director of the Oklahoma City Zoo, pointed out that posters were a popular item at his zoo and he suggested that a series of waterfowl posters could be sponsored by the IWWA. It was thought that they would be especially desirable for those involved with waterfowl, and at the same time raise additional funds to be used for other waterfowl projects. The Board of Directors was enthusiastic concerning the project and it was soon underway. Bob Elgas, naturally, was chosen as the artist, and he put his talents promptly to work. Bob produced a large individual painting of each of the nine species of swan. These were assembled by the printer and reduced in size in order to print a large poster. The printer was able to reproduce an excellent quality poster that maintains the fine detail of Bob's original paintings.
1982 - WHITE-HEADED DUCK PROJECT Mike Lubbock brought to the attention of the directors of the IWWA, the serious plight of the Spanish white-headed duck. A careful count in 1980 could find only forty-four individuals in all of Spain. Worst of all the Spanish Fish and Wildlife Service (ICONA) had no interest in preserving this unusual species of Stiff Tails. Mike recommended that IWWA make a grant promptly to support a serious preservation effort. The Association wisely provided five thousand dollars for this effort. The money was to be used to preserve habitat. This included paying farmers adjacent to the ponds to desist conducting activities that were jeopardizing this small population. Small boys and rats swarmed over the area destroying nests and eggs, and there was no control of all types of predation. Our grant aided in providing wardens to protect the breeders. Additional habitats were made available to the ducks. A captive breeding program was started, and management personnel were trained to oversee the entire program. Worth noting is the fact that Bill Makins, an Englishman had provided his own money and expertise to get the project started before IWWA became involved. It is quite possible that had not Mr. Makins taken hold of the problem at that vital moment, there might not have been any white-headed ducks for us to preserve. Tom Gullick, an English Ornithologist, was also vital to the project. Pedro Mollina, an employee of ICONA, the director of Tablas Daniel provided important support. The fact that the white-headed duck lays large clutches of eggs was in its favor. They also lay several clutches each breeding season. Latest reports indicate that the population of the white-headed duck has increased to reasonably safe levels. The count in the wild was one hundred and twenty individuals in 1985. Most importantly the Spanish Government has taken control and responsibility for the program and they are providing the necessary financial support. However, the IWWA can take great pride in our part in this success story. Naturally, we must share our pride with Mike Lubbock, Bill Makins and Tom Gullick. It was a success story, thanks largely to our support to the people involved in helping the ducks. Apparently, it really shamed the Spanish officials into doing something positive. Keepers are handling the wintering and the breeding of the birds. There were, as of 1991, four hundred and fifty breeding pairs and due to the spreading of the population, some will be moved into Sardinia. When IWWA members visited the area during our 2005 Conference in Seville the population of white-headed ducks was thought to be 5000. Members had the opportunity to see many of these in the wild near Sanlucar.
1980 - PROBLEM OF AIR FREIGHT RATE The airlines were charging exorbitant rates to transport live birds. The problem was discussed at our 1980 meeting and President Elgas appointed Joe Desarro, chairman of a committee to meet with the various airline executives. The purpose was to discuss the problems the airlines had in handling live birds, and the excessively high costs imposed on the shipper. It is worth noting at this time the U. S. Postal Service will accept live birds for shipment if properly packed. The cost is considerable less than the airline fees; however, the shipper must prepay the cost. Animal Rights groups continue to challenge this process. IWWA has continued to participate with other bird groups to ensure continued service.
TULE GOOSE BREEDING GROUNDS PROTECTED There has been little information available concerning the exact population of the tule goose (Anser albifrons elgasi) because of the small flocks that appeared on the wintering grounds in California. It was all but impossible to provide them with reasonable protection since their breeding range was unknown. Fortunately Bob Elgas and Warren Hancock discovered the first nests and broods in the Redoubt Bay area of Alaska on July 3, 1989. Efforts have been underway since then to gain some measure of protection for them on their breeding range. The IWWA as an organization, and many individual members, wrote letters to Alaska's Senators and Representatives in support of such legislation. IWWA and many other groups with varied backgrounds and interests came together to support the establishment of a refuge in Redoubt Bay. The legislature took notice because of these letters and the area was set aside as a refuge to protect the tule goose. This was an excellent example of the manner in which the members of the IWWA, working together, can protect our environment and conserve our natural resources.
A law is in effect which sets aside funds from the Fish and Wildlife Service to make cash payments, in lieu of taxes, to local government when land is set aside as Federal Refuges. This procedure has reduced the local opposition to the Federal Government taking over these lands. This process is exceedingly necessary today in the urgent need to acquire and preserve wetlands throughout the country. We have just become fully aware of the importance of this type of habitat to man, as well as too many natural creatures. Payments in 1988 were only 59 percent of the amount they should have been. U. S. Senate Bill 115050 (The Refuge Sharing Fund) was introduced in Congress in 1990. This would have increased payments to 74 percent. The IWWA is well aware of the need to provide this type of habitat for our decreasing waterfowl populations. Thirty Senators acknowledged the letters and most indicated support. Unfortunately the bill did not make it to Committee this session and it will need to be resubmitted to the next Congress. The IWWA certainly recognizes the importance of this bill for waterfowl.
l990 - THE GREAT BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE The IWWA promoted a letter-writing campaign in support of creating a Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge by an inter-agency transfer of land, at no cost, from the Department of Defense to the Department of the Interior. Several hundred letters were written to President Bush with copies to Secretary of Defense, Cheney, and various Senators, etc. This transfer involved 1200 acres of land that is currently a part of Pease Air Force Base in Newington, N. H. A brochure on the proposal listed IWWA as a supporting organization. After first insisting that it could not be transferred at no cost because the Base Closure Act required the Air Force to get fair market value for the land, they have acknowledged they can make the transfer once an environmental impact statement is completed. All other requirements are in place. The IWWA can take a great deal of credit for turning the Department of Defense around and for the eventual establishment of the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Incidentally, osprey nested in this area for the first time in over thirty years. They fledged three young in 1990. On October 9th 1992 the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge was dedicated by Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Mike Hayden. President Walt Sturgeon was in attendance and was recognized.
WHITE-WINGED WOOD DUCK PROJECT Populations of white-winged wood ducks have reached a critical situation in their natural habitat. Conservation Committee Chairman Mike Lubbock prepared a proposal for the ISSA to initiate and support a program to assist this species in captivity and in the wild. As a further follow-up on this project, Walt Sturgeon reported that Sea World had donated $3,000 to the IWWA toward the White-Winged Wood Duck Restoration Project. There are roughly 200 of this rare duck remaining in the wild. The AAZPA organized an international studbook with Sherry Branch in charge. ICBP will be responsible for arranging release of captive-bred birds. Mike Lubbock has 100 birds on loan – the bloodlines coming from Sea World and Dillon Ripley’s collections. Mr. Lubbock has sold none. $5,000 is needed for breeding facilities for 10 breeding pair and holding pens for adolescents. The Board of Directors for the IWWA voted to give the $3,000 Sea World donation, and an additional $1,500 from the treasury to make up a total of $4,500 toward the establishment of a facility for captive breeding and raising of the white-winged wood duck at Sylvan Heights, Scotland Neck, North Carolina. Over the week of March 15-21, 1992, the WWWD Project breeding and holding pens were erected at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl. Mike Lubbock, Toad Herring and many other Sylvan Height's staff and volunteers completed the grading, drainage system and concrete pools prior to the 15th. President Sturgeon went down with a volunteer crew totaling six people to assemble the frame, install wire, netting and snake guard, and complete fill around the pools. When the crew left, two pens were landscaped and ducks were in one of them. Since that time, Mike and crew have finished landscaping, seeding and providing the water supply. In all, about 450 man hours were donated to the project. We ended up building a total of seven breeding pens 10' x 20' x 8' and two holding pens for juveniles 20' x 20' x 8'. The white-winged wood duck facility was designated as a memorial to John A. Griswold and Guy Greenwell. A plaque has been placed in their honor and also lists those who worked on the construction. Since the completion of this facility in 1992, the IWWA has contributed $500 each year for its continued maintenance. This is IWWA’s biggest project to date with a total of $11,000 in grants over a 14 year period.
WATERFOWL NESTING HABITAT IMPROVEMENT ON ZUNI RESERVATION In early 1993 IWWA was approached by the Pueblo of Zuni in New Mexico for help with a project to improve wetland nesting habitat on their reservation. They asked us to pay for the materials to build a fence around one of their wetlands, that in the past had proven to be excellent habitat, but it was now overgrazed by cattle. The Zuni were to provide posts and labor to install the fence. They expect to have to green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, pintail, shoveler, mallard and gadwall nesting in this area as they do in other areas of western New Mexico. Needless to say, we thought this was an excellent project, and for $960 we got almost two miles of barbed wire fence and 68 acres of wetland habitat. President Walt Sturgeon and member Dave Olson visited the Pueblo in the winter of 1995/1996. To their delight and due to the increased funding from matching funds several hundred acres had been fenced and many waterfowl were observed in the area. The total of almost $10,000 had been used to purchase material and all labor had been provided at no cost from prisoners at the Zuni jail. This is another example of IWWA seed money having a large impact on waterfowl conservation.
After the Exxon Valdez disaster in and around Cook Inlet in Alaska, the Exxon Valdez Trustee Council was established to determine the appropriate use of the settlement fund. In August 1993 the Council was to meet to determine the use of the $600 million left in the fund. IWWA and several other conservation organizations were asked to review the options being considered. IWWA supported dedication of 91% of the remaining funds to habitat acquisition within the spill area. The area would be added in most part to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which in most cases borders - or actually surrounds - the proposed areas. In our response to the Council, we urged them to prioritize coastal sea duck habitat in the area where bays and near-shore waters provide wintering habitat for an estimated 150,000 eider and greater scaup. An important population of breeding swans also utilize the southern end of the Refuge and would benefit from acquisition and preservation of their habitat. It is IWWA's view that nature will do the most important job in cleaning up the oil spill. Since the spill was an environmental problem, the solution of habitat acquisition and preservation is the best use of the oil spill settlement fund from an environmental standpoint. Ultimately the Trustee Council dedicated 60 percent of the available settlement funds for habitat protection in the spill area. A total of 643,835 acres have been acquired for a total price of $393.8 million. The Trustee Council also designated $25 million from current reserve funds to continue its habitat protection program which should provide about $1.25 million per year for an ongoing program.
The fate of the nene in Hawaii has appeared to be pretty grim until recent years with the establishment of the Nene O Moloka’I Project in conjunction with support from the Peregrine Fund. Founded by Arleone Dibben-Young, the Nene Project has redirected the focus and serves to create actual successes with regards to giving the nene a better chance for survival in its native habitat. The species received its endangered status due to the loss of its habitat and the introduction of predators. In 1995, the IWWA contributed $2500 to this important project.
Masked ducks are secretive little birds, similar in appearance to the North American ruddy duck. They have not been widely established in captivity anywhere in the world. Brad Hazelton is working with this species to observe them in the wild and use this information to establish a captive population. In 1995, the IWWA contributed $3500 to this ambitious project. Brad continues to monitor and check on any sightings reported in South Texas and the northeast corner of Mexico. It is IWWA’s goal to obtain young birds from the wild for a captive breeding program that will unlock the secrets of their biology. Conservation of this species in captivity as a hedge against loss of one or more of what appears to be a fragmented populations in the wild is an essential element of this project.
In 1996 the Board voted to support a project proposed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo) to collect torrent ducks and to build a facility in Chile to house them. They have been collected and held in captivity in the past but no breeding has occurred. IWWA agreed to provide $2500 toward the $28,000 proposed budget. However in 1998, a grant previously made to support the eventual establishment of torrent ducks in captivity was revived and refocused. Due to various political problems in working with Chile at this time, an arrangement was worked out to try a similar project in Venezuela. Doug Piekarz requested that a portion of the previous funds that had been allocated (but not used) be re-designated to survey the Columbian torrent duck in Venezuela. This was used to do the initial field surveys in Venezuela, which were accomplished in January of 1999 with the help of BioAndina, Cleveland Zoo, Sylvan Heights, Barberton Veterinary Clinic and Akron Zoo. While establishment of the torrent duck in captivity in Venezuela is an eventual goal, this goal is secondary to the conservation of this species in the wild. In order to support focus on this species in Venezuela a grass roots conservation education program along with field work needs to be completed with the hope that a facility akin to a “nature center/ propagation center” may one day be constructed to house and care for torrent ducks in a manner consistent with the goals of their conservation. Additional funds were provided in 1999 and 2001 to support conservation projects and field survey work in Merida State amounting to $6300. In 2002 IWWA provided an additional $1500 to the Venezuelan Waterfowl Foundation for educational materials, conservation education programming and an exhibit at The National Sciences Museum in Merida. Funding for this effort was also received from the Akron Zoo, Barberton Vet Clinic, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl, and Walt Disney Company.
MISSION RIDGE RETIREMENT HOME WATERFOWL PROJECT The Waterfowl Project at Mission Ridge Retirement home began with IWWA board member and former treasurer, Bill Lowe, who along with his wife, Connie, moved to Mission Ridge around 1998. The project has grown tremendously since then and has touched the lives of many in the community. A mud hole that was used to catch storm runoff has been transformed into an exotic waterfowl viewing site. Trumpeter swans, and various geese and ducks have found refuge in this area. The IWWA donated $1500 in 1999 toward the cost of an access ramp and viewing blind. In 2000 IWWA continued to support this worthwhile community project with an additional $1500 toward an incubation and rearing facility. The IWWA Directors looked at this project as a demonstration of how the beauty of waterfowl could contribute to the lives of our senior citizens. The facility is very near an elementary school and is used regularly by children as a field trip location.
MOUNTAIN BLUE DUCK ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PROGRAM The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust maintains a breeding nucleus of mountain blue ducks at two of its facilities in England. While reproduction has occurred at these facilities, fertility has been poor. IWWA provided $3000 in 1999 to develop an artificial insemination protocol that the WWT hoped would increase fertility and help maintain the genetic diversity in the captive population. The project started A.I. at Arundel and Slimbridge in 2001. Work continued through 2004 with little success and only three males were produced. Egg production was good in all four years but little fertility was achieved through A.I. or natural breeding. The A.I. project was abandoned in 2005 when a female stopped egg laying after A.I. In January 2006 WWT held 5 male and 3 female blue ducks.
FRIENDS OF THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE SOCIETY The white-fronted goose population has dwindled dramatically due to intense hunting in Northern Europe and Central Asia. Re-stocking programs in Sweden and Finland have found some success using barnacle geese as a mentor species, thus causing the white-fronts to learn different migratory routes to areas where hunting pressure is very low. The Friends of the White-fronted Goose Society has worked diligently to reproduce this species in private collections, raise funds and prepare for a Swedish-style re-introduction. The IWWA contributed $1000 to this worthwhile project in 2001.
TUBERCULOSIS TEST FOR WHITE-WINGED WOOD DUCKS Avian tuberculosis has been a continuing problem in the conservation of certain species of waterfowl especially white-winged wood ducks. In 2002 IWWA provided $3100 to Dr. Gary Riggs for the development of a test for avian tuberculosis in this species with the hope that it will have further application. This money was used to support the work on site and lab work done at Texas A&M. They are attempting to develop an ante mortem test to predict mycobacterial infections in waterfowl in the early stages. Dr. Riggs, who is now IWWA’s consulting veterinarian, continues to work with the staff at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl on monitoring their population of white-winged wood ducks.
SWAN MORTALITY STUDY IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IWWA provided $1000 to Dr. Laurie Degernes at NC State University to help support student research on swan mortality in the state of Washington. During the winters of 2000-2002 biologists, wildlife rehabilitators, and other volunteers collected hundreds of dead and dying trumpeter and tundra swans in western Washington. The primary goal of this project was to determine the cause(s) of death and factors that were associated with this large die-off of swans. Necropsies were done at Western Washington University’s Environmental Toxicology Lab in Bellingham, WA. in 2001 and 2002 by a team of veterinary students from NCSU, veterinarians, and volunteers. The project provided valuable educational field experience to all participating. More than three quarters of the swans died of lead poisoning secondary to ingestion of spent shotgun shell pellets (322 of 400 swans). It is assumed that the swans inadvertently ingest the lead shot while foraging for grit needed for digestion/grinding in their ventriculus. This effort in organizing and collecting information from the die-offs of 2000-01 and 2001-02 provided a major contribution to the understanding of lead poisoning mortality in wild swans. Study of this population of swans continues to try to determine where the birds are picking up the shot. Besides IWWA this project was supported by the Trumpeter Swan Society, Dr. Mel Levine, Mr. Ted Martin and NCSU.
ONCE COMMON/NOW RARE CONSERVATION PROJECT At the 2003 Board of Directors meeting a lengthy discussion led to a survey of captive waterfowl in North America. That survey confirmed that many of the duck species once common in collections could no longer be found in North America. Arnold Schouten was named chair of an Avicultural Committee that commissioned the study and was charged with the responsibility of coming back to the Board with a recommendation on how to proceed. The obvious concern was the continuing pressure to eliminate importation of birds and the longer we delayed, the more difficult it would be to obtain a new population of birds to work with. The Committee came back to the Board with a recommendation in 2004 and gained approval of an expenditure of up to $3500 in 2004 and again in 2005 to purchase and import up to three species a year to initiate the re-establishment program. The first four species were identified as the New Zealand black duck, Baer’s pochard, the Chinese spotbill, and the Hawaiian duck. The first two species were imported from Europe in 2005. The initial group of birds went to Sylvan Heights and once breeding there the birds will be dispersed to other IWWA members as young become available.
ORINOCO GOOSE NEST BOX PROJECT While discussing several grant proposals during the 2005 Board of Directors meeting in Spain, the subject of deforestation and the toll it was taking on Orinoco goose production in Venezuela came up. As the forests become further and further from the bodies of water used by the geese it becomes increasing difficult for them to get their broods to the safety of water. Since the birds are cavity nesters the idea of putting up boxes close to the water similar to the wood duck nest box program seemed like a good idea. The Board decided to invest up to $1000 to have the boxes built and installed as a pilot project. Mike Lubbock was charged with the responsibility of finding someone to build the boxes and get them installed.
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