Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries News
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeast Region Honors LDWF Office of Wildlife for Waterfowl Conservation Efforts
Nov 1, 2013 — Some of the Southeast’s finest conservationists, academics, and partners in wildlife conservation were recognized Oct. 30 at a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director’s Honor Awards ceremony in Atlanta.
Among those receiving awards was Larry Reynolds, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) waterfowl study leader, for directing wood duck banding efforts in the state.
“Recognizing the excellence of partners, volunteers, and employees is one way we can say thank you to those who practice what we like to call ‘Southern-style conservation’,” USFWS Regional Director Cindy Dohner said. “Every day, they demonstrate their long-term commitment to working together to sustain fish and wildlife for future generations. We are indebted to them.”
Under Reynolds’ leadership, LDWF’s Wildlife Division successfully captured and banded 2,176 wood ducks during the 2011 pre-season banding period. This number was more than four times the agency’s annual banding quota of 500 wood ducks, and represents the highest number of the species banded by any southeastern state during the same period. “This is recognition of the Wildlife Division’s efforts, not just one individual,” Reynolds said. “Paul Link, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan coordinator, and all of our participating staff deserves the credit for capturing and banding all those wood ducks.”
During the past decade or more, LDWF has consistently strived to meet its banding goals, and has banded well over 10,000 wood ducks since 2004. Because wood ducks are primarily found in forested wetlands, traditional waterfowl survey methods do not work. Therefore, Mississippi Flyway-wide partnership banding programs, such as those carried out in Louisiana, are critical to providing the information required to support wood duck population management.
In all, 32 individuals and teams were recognized for their extraordinary efforts in the service of conservation. To read more about their accomplishments, please visit http://www.fws.gov/southeast/.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on their work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.
For more information: contact Bo Boehringer at 225-765-5115 or bboehriner@wlf.la.gov; or Stacy Shelton at 404-679-7290 or Stacy_Shelton@fws.gov.
