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| SCDNR waterfowl biologist Molly Kneece |
As wet conditions persist into Spring, it creates more habitat wood ducks can utilize during their breeding season. In fact, the longer wet conditions persist the better chance they have for an extended reproduction timeline. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources increased efforts to band wood ducks in 2019 and was recognized on March 13 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their efforts. Wood duck conservation efforts are increasing across several platforms, focusing on the sustainability of this waterfowl species, and that is good news.
SCDNR waterfowl biologist Molly Kneece is helping to coordinate these wood duck banding efforts of 50-plus staff members in Anderson, York, Fairfield, Marian, Lexington, Charleston, Berkeley and Hampton counties. Kneece earned a forestry degree from Clemson before becoming an intern at the Nemours Wildlife Foundation, which influenced her to pursue a degree in wildlife management from Mississippi State. While in Mississippi she studied under Dr. Richard Kaminski, who now resides in S.C. and heads up the new Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands program, which is undertaking a long-term study into wood duck life history.
“We ramped up our banding efforts during the summer of 2019, tagging 842-wood ducks,” said Kneece. “The threshold for special recognition from the USFWS is set at 800, and I can’t stress enough that it takes a team effort to band this many wood ducks. First we received training from USFWS rep John Stanton regarding the use of rocket-propelled nets, and then we focused on determination of the age and the sex of each wood duck banded. We utilized public-managed wetlands for this banding effort, but we also partnered with S.C. game wardens to access private wetlands too, and we did not limit our range to the coastal plain.”
To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.
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