Example of Waterfowl Planning in SONEC

During winter 2000-2003, 140 female pintails were captured in the Central Valley of California and fitted with satellite transmitters. A key objective of this study was to identify spring migration routes and staging areas used by pintails prior to arriving on the breeding grounds. The study found that 80% of all pintails marked in the Central Valley migrated through SONEC where they relied on a combination of public and private habitats. The region is now recognized as the most important spring staging area for pintails in the Pacific Flyway.

The IWJV, in cooperation with U.S. Geological Survey and Ducks Unlimited, Inc., is now working to establish habitat objectives for pintail and other waterfowl species that rely on SONEC. This includes establishing population objectives from fall through spring and an estimate of the public and private land habitat available to waterfowl, as well as the food supplies provided by these habitats. This information will be used to inform the management of public lands, and to identify the kinds of incentive programs needed to maintain adequate amounts of privately owned waterfowl habitat.