Researchers from Louisiana State University, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other cooperating agencies are asking for help in tracking color-coded ducks as they migrate through the Upper Midwest.
Biologists are currently trapping, banding and color-marking lesser scaup, also known as bluebills, as they move into Pool 19 of the Mississippi River near Hamilton, Ill.
Colored plastic tags have been attached to the bills of each scaup. Observations of these marked will help researchers learn more about migratory corridors and the birds’ movement across the Upper Midwest.
“Scaup populations have been declining in North America for many years,” said Jeff Lawrence, DNR wetland wildlife group leader. “This research is aimed at determining whether food resources in the Upper Midwest are adequate for scaup during spring migration.”
The researchers are soliciting help from the public to help look for color-marked scaup. They will be mailing out an original scaup art print as a reward to participants with confirmed sightings.
If people see a color-marked scaup, they are asked to call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), and have the following information: name, address; and phone number; date of sighting; color of bill-marker; letter written on bill-marker; (if readable), male or female (if identifiable); and location of sighting (i.e., distance and direction from nearest town or name of lake, county, and state or province).
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