Summary of Alberta Waterfowl Crop Damage Prevention Program 2009

Author(s)

Velma Hudson

Summary

The Waterfowl Crop Damage Prevention Program (WCDPP) provides assistance to Alberta grain producers in reducing or preventing damage to cereal crops caused by waterfowl during the fall migration period. Damage prevention is accomplished through 1) the provision of alternate feed for waterfowl at feeding stations and lure crops, 2) the provision of waterfowl scare cannons available for producers to borrow free of charge, 3) waterfowl scaring advice available through print media, internet and WCDPP coordinators, and 4) the optional sharing of contact information with
waterfowl hunters.


Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), Environment Canada (EC) and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) collaboratively plan the WCDPP. ACA delivers program services while program funding has traditionally been cost‐shared between ACA and EC. For the 2009 fall migration period, EC was unable to commit to cost‐sharing of the WCDPP prior to implementation of program activities. Consequently, ACA delivered a modified program that did not operate waterfowl
feeding stations but did provide the other services as listed above.


Scare cannons were available for producers to borrow at 45 locations throughout the white zone (agricultural region) of Alberta. Scare cannon distribution centres operated for an average of 76 days, with 118 cannons loaned to 48 producers for use on at least 81 different quarter sections of land. Forty‐eight percent of producers who borrowed scare cannons allowed their contact information to be provided to waterfowl hunters. Scare cannon request information was available through weekly updates on a WCDPP web page.

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