Louisiana duck season opens this weekend amid good news about habitat

The Louisiana duck hunting season begins this weekend, and federal officials report that a coordinated effort with landowners across eight states to protect and feed birds migrating toward the oil spill zone in the Gulf had more than tripled expectations, enrolling more than 470,000 acres.

The new habitat has been welcoming waterfowl and other birds in recent days and weeks, as the migration of pintails, gadwalls and wigeon seems to have occurred somewhat ahead of schedule.

Birds helped by the habitat, which is on pubic and private lands, include sandpipers, killdeer, Northern pintail, teal, mottled ducks, white-fronted geese, glossy ibis, great blue-heron, snowy egret, and other species.

According to a press release from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service:

The Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative began June 28 when oil was still spilling from the Deepwater Horizon well. The initiative mobilized private landowners to help create alternative and additional habitats to provide healthy food and resting areas for shorebirds, waterfowl and other birds headed for the Gulf. The initial goal was to enroll 150,000 acres. After landowners expressed extremely strong interest in the program, funding was doubled to $40 million enabling enrollment to reach a total over three times the initial goal.

The 470,000 acres under contract are within the three flyways that pass through the Gulf of Mexico. These lands in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas are being flooded with varying water levels and planted with a variety of vegetation to provide food and habitat for the wide range of bird species that might stop to refuel. Early feedback from participants indicates that a variety of birds are using the enhanced habitat, including sandpipers, blue-winged teal, mottled ducks and many others.