The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is currently conducting research on Ring-necked ducks harvested throughout the waterfowl season and needs your help to reserve and submit a wing from your harvested Ring-necked ducks!
Feathers from harvested wings will be analyzed to determine likely geographic location of summer molting using isotope ecology. This analysis will help managers better understand the contribution of Wisconsin derived Ring-necked ducks to the proportion of the overall harvest. This approach to understanding harvest derivation will then be compared to band recovery data.
Figure 1 -Example of ring-necked duck and wing saved for isotopic analysis.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
- Save a wing from Ring-necked ducks you harvest this fall. Researchers are looking for Ring-necked ducks harvested across the entire span of the waterfowl season.
- Disconnect one wing from the body and place in an individual 1-gallon plastic freezer bag and place bag in a freezer. Keep each wing in its own separate freezer bag.
- On the outside of each freezer bag, use a permanent marker to record:
- Date of harvest
- County of harvest
- Presumed sex and age if you know
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WINGS
If you plan to participate contact Dr. Drew Fowler, Waterfowl Research Scientist, at drew.fowler@wisconsin.gov to inform him of your participation and request plastic freezer bags if needed.
Coordinate with Dr. Fowler to schedule pre-paid shipment or pick-up logistics after the duck season.