huge volume of ducks.
“ North Dakota is the best for prairie duck breeding of all the states,” he said of North Dakota.
Still, waterfowl, like all wildlife, needs a place to live.
“ Loss of breeding habitat is the number one problem facing waterfowl today,” he related.“ We’ re losing it, but we’ re losing it( in North Dakota) slower than
Dr. Chris Nicolai anywhere else. Agriculture has been a benefit for waterfowl in fall migration and wintering areas, as it provides more calories on the landscape.”
There are regions in the Midwest where landowners loath potholes. They limit crop production, which for many is the existential reason for farming, period. There are a myriad of rules and regulations today governing the life of wetlands, but for those who value wet potholes, which includes both farmers and conservationists, their importance is beyond measure.
Bad Medicine
Wet areas also produce perimeter vegetation, which means even lesser amounts of dirt to plant seeds. In some cases surround-
ing pothole vegetation is sprayed, which in addition to eliminating habitat, also destroys other wildlife, creatures big and small.( If you can’ t see them, they aren’ t there.)
“ The use of chemicals is not a direct source of mortality in wildlife when used following guidelines,” Dr. Nicolai explained.“ The bigger question is in the indirect effects, that is, its impact on the invertebrate community. Invertebrates prep female ducks before breeding by being able to‘ top off her tank’ right before laying eggs.”
The“ invisible” wildlife extends its value further.
“ Invertebrates are also important for small young birds that need protein-rich foods, not carbs,” Dr. Nicolai continued.“ They get that from eating grasshoppers, funky bugs swimming in the water or any other number of invertebrates.
“ Studies have shown that by simply adding minnows to a wetland, the minnows can remove the same invertebrates ducklings were going to eat. There are studies describing negative effects on
Upper left, Hen Houses, produced by Delta Waterfowl, have provided countless thousands of refuges for ducks to reproduce. Also, diver ducks like mallards and pintails feel the effects of wetland losses.
invertebrates from applied chemicals. It’ s a difficult question, and one covered in controversy, but its not hard to imagine agriculture pesticides having a negative impact on wetland invertebrates.”
Ducks are Noticed First
Of central interest when wetlands are mentioned, are ducks. They’ re the most visible. But many other forms of wildlife benefit from small to large ponds as well, from tiny insects that initiate the food chain to many other creatures, including upland birds, that not only survive around wetlands, but propagate near it.
In some regions in the Dakotas and Minnesota, land is farmed“ wall to wall.” There are no ditches. If there’ s a legal way to drain water, it’ s done, sometimes even if it’ s not legal.
A trend noted by Dr. Nicolai today also involves the time-honored work of collecting rocks, but instead of piling them in a field anymore, they’ re being buried. More land for crops. Canadian farmers, in particular, are notorious for using every square inch
www. dakotacountrymagazine. com Dakota Country, September 2025, Page 61