Please look for lesser scaup with colored nasal saddles! Researchers from Louisiana State University, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and other cooperating agencies are once again asking for help in tracking color-coded ducks as they migrate through the Upper Midwest. The scaup were captured and marked in Pool 19 of the Mississippi River near Hamilton, Illinois. Colored plastic tags, or nasal saddles, have been attached to the bills of each scaup. Observations of these marked birds will help researchers learn more about migratory corridors and the birds' movement across the Upper Midwest.
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 you see a color-marked scaup please call 1-888-MINNDNR (1-888-646-6367), and have the following information: (1) your name, address, and phone number, (2) date of sighting, (3) color of bill-marker, (4) letter written on bill-marker (if readable), (5) male or female (if identifiable), and (5) location of sighting (i.e., distance and direction from nearest town or name of lake, county, and State or Province). More information is available online at www.dnr.state.mn.us. Thank you! Jeff Jeff Lawrence Group Leader Wetland Wildlife Populations and Research Group 102 23rd St. NE Bemidji, MN 56601 218-755-3905 [email protected]
