- Alabama Waterfowl Association, Inc.
- 1346 COUNTY ROAD #11
- SCOTTSBORO, ALABAMA 35768
News Release June 13, 1999 Contact: Jerry Davis, CEO Phone 256.259.2509
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AWA TO RELEASE OVER 3,000 WILD MALLARDS IN ALABAMA JULY 10, 1999
Saturday July 10th, 1999 Alabama’s mallard duck population will rise by more than 3,000 when volunteers of the Alabama Waterfowl Association (AWA) will band and release that number of 35 day old wild mallards. A leg band with a prefix of Y2K will be placed on each duck to identify it as part of the year 2000 release project. AWA is presenting an award and a gift (to be announced later) to anyone that returns the band Y2K-2000 to AWA. This release will mark a milestone of over 40,000 mallards that AWA has released in Alabama since 1988. Recruitment is taking place, because it is not uncommon to see broods of wild mallards, especially in the Tennessee River Valley of Alabama. AWA is inviting volunteers to come to the AWA Mallard Rearing Facility near North Sauty Waterfowl Refuge and help catch, band and release the mallards. For more information and directions check the AWA web site at http://www.alabamawaterfowl.org or call AWA at 256.259.2509.
AWA is the Alabama distributor for Frost Waterfowl Trust mallards. Only Mother Nature can raise a better duck than these mallards. Great care is given to keep human imprinting from taming the wild genetics of these mallards. Automatic feeders, lights for a mother’s warmth and electronic environmental controls ensure these ducks are reared to the highest standards and suitable for release in the wild. After thousands of band reports and interviews with sportsmen that have harvested these mallards in 14 different states and three Canadian Provinces, AWA has proven this wild mallard release project is a very viable waterfowl enhancement project, and over 82% of these mallards are harvested within 50 miles of their release site.
This mallard project is mainly funded through private donations from a program called Mallard Stewardship Project (MSP). This is where private landowners make a donation to AWA’s mallard project and in return receive ducks which they agree to furnish a fenced pond or lake and feed until they decide to fly away. Mr. Harvey Robbins, whose MSP has obtained 1,000 mallards for each of the past two years, stated, "Before I started this mallard program, I rarely saw a mallard. Now the mallards darken the sky every evening during the last part of December and January. These AWA mallards draw thousands of migratory ducks to this area." Mr. Robbins developed and owns Double Head Resort at the mouth of Town Creek near Wheeler Dam. He has set aside several hundred acres of land with prime commercial development potential to be used for his Mallard Stewardship Project. AWA band data indicates that the mallard harvest has increased tremendously in Lawrence, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties because of Mr. Robbins’ commitment to conservation with his donation and participation in AWA’s MSP program. Other MSP participants in other counties have voiced the same results as Mr. Robbins. Just because the ducks are placed on private land does not mean the public hunters do not benefit. AWA receives a great percentage of the band reports from public hunting areas.
Benefits of Mallard Release Project- Directly increases harvest opportunity . It is well known that if you increase harvest opportunity, the private sector will be inspired to develop and conserve habitat to enjoy watching and hunting waterfowl.
- Decoys over-flying migrating waterfowl to enjoy the lush habitat of the TRV.
- The release and yearly recruitment has increased watching and hunting opportunity. This increases tourism in Alabama, adding to the local and state economies.
- AWA involves youngsters to help raise, band and release the mallard ducks. This involves the youngsters and adults in a hands-on experience with conservation practices. This is an educational outreach tool.
- The band data AWA has collected is forwarded to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). It has shown that the state of Indiana’s Coal Reclamation projects are where many of the ducks that frequent the TRV of Alabama stage to replenish their diet and strength to continue their journey south.
AWA would like to thank Mr. Larry Abercrombie of Scottsboro, AL for his donation of the feed storage silo and automatic feeder for our mallard rearing facility. Also, much appreciation goes out to Wayne Farms in Guntersville, AL for the donation of 11,000 pounds of feed to feed the 3,000 plus ducks over a 35-day period.
AWA plans to develop a Mallard Stewardship Project at our Guntersville Big Spring Creek project and has constructed a fence to release ducks into until the mallards can fly.
- Please join with AWA, and start today, conserving the next generation's tomorrow.
- JERRY D. DAVIS
- CEO