Waterfowl Habitat Workshop at The Catfish Farm

Bob Perry demonstrates how 6-inches of water depth,
is ideal for ducks feeding on the bottom

The timing for the waterfowl habitat workshop could not have been better considering that duck hunting season just ended. Waterfowl managers could now visit duck ponds still holding migratory waterfowl without worry of disturbing the ducks. The Catfish Farm is located in the Pee Dee region and does not have any tidal influence on its waterfowl habitat, which includes flooded agricultural impoundments and a green tree reservoir complex.

            

Dr. Rick Kaminski and Manager Lynn Collins

The Director of the Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Center based at the Baruch Institute in Georgetown is Dr. Rick Kaminski. “We should be mindful that this is the 100th Anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act signed in 1918,” said Kaminski. “That’s a long time to be managing migratory waterfowl, and the North American Waterfowl Plan is the greatest continental ecosystem management plan worldwide.” Kaminski also shares that while duck numbers are trending upward in modern times, duck hunter recruitment numbers are decreasing.

            

Pee Dee Waterfowl Workshop attendees

Ben Powell is the Clemson Cooperative Extension member tasked with planning the Pee Dee Waterfowl workshop. Winyah Land and Timber, SCDNR, Ducks Unlimited and the Nemours Wildlife Foundation provided meeting materials or on site expertise to help convey the message of wetland conservation. The Catfish Farm is owned by Richardson Construction Company, and longtime manager Lynn Collins was happy to answer any questions about how they attract migratory ducks and honor waterfowling traditions.

            

Thanks to The Catfish Farm for hosting the workshop!

Bob Perry is a wildlife biologist with Palmetto Natural Resources Management consulting firm, after retiring in June 2017 after 39-years with SCDNR. “I first came to The Catfish Farm in 1999, when aquaculture practices raising commercial catfish were still underway,” said Perry. “Since the initial waterfowl management plan we crafted here, I can document the history of waterfowl using the property.” The Catfish Pond is located near Marion, and occupies 1100-acres once known as Cypress Creek Bay, and lies in between the Little Pee Dee and Great Pee Dee Rivers.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about waterfowl habitat click on ACE Basin 25th Anniversary