Ducks Unlimited Canada- Saskatchewan

We love sunsets, too. 😍 Thanks to our partner farmers and ranchers, who are providing food, fiber, and habitat, along with scenic pastoral views like this.

Just a reminder...! 👇💙👍👏

Celebrated on December 5 each year, World Soil Day advocates for the sustainable management of soil resources. So it's the perfect occasion to check in on a Saskatchewan partnership that aims to achieve just that! A two-year-old collaborative agreement between DUC and producer group, SaskSoil, has seen thousands of acres of marginal farmland seeded to perennial forage, delivering benefits to soil health, farm productivity, and biodiversity.

DUC/SaskSoil partnership delivers improvements to soil health, farm profitability — Agriculture programs - Ducks Unlimited Canada Discover how Saskatchewan farmers are improving soil health and increasing productivity by seeding perennial forages in field margins. Learn about the Marginal Areas Program (MAP) and the collaborative agreement between Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and SaskSoil that is making it possible. Find out h...

🐸 That face when you realize December starts tomorrow.

‘Tis the season of the frozen wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus), an amphibian living from below zero- temps in the Arctic and all the way to the southeastern United States. In cold climates, they undergo “cryo-preservation,” when the sugar alcohol glycerol in their blood acts as antifreeze. The glycerol helps to slow down and isolate any ice crystals in the frog’s body and keeps their organs and tissue from taking lethal damage. This allows wood frogs to survive icy temperatures as they nestle in leaf litter, literally frozen under snow. ❄️

Even with adaptations like the wood frog’s, amphibians are particularly vulnerable to climate change and pollution. They remain important indicators of ecosystem health as they frequent land and water realms to complete their life cycle.

Photo by Peter Pearsall/USFWS

A great couple of days of information sharing in the La Ronge, Sask. area!

Beef producers take note! 👇👇👇

Our friends at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence are conducting a survey and they're looking for Saskatchewan beef producers to take part. Please consider assisting them by clicking here: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/3MJ7MD9?fbclid=IwAR3XhYcgWi9iF-4iW1ngAvQNfaAvGyKlgdkC3JCBNeiEzEUlKfN_kFBxNVo **g

“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” ~William Blake
In Saskatchewan, we are fortunate to experience the passage of four separate seasons and all that each brings. If you've visited the same pond, field or forest throughout the year, you will have witnessed this first hand (both good and bad 😀). These images were taken at Regina's McKell Wascana Conservation Park and capture the subtle and not-so-subtle changes across the annual cycle of a Prairie wetland. ❄️🌷🍉🍁Photos: Suzanne Joyce.

A big congratulations to the winners of our Canadian Western Agribition raffle prizes! Kate S. of Regina and Jae E. of Abernethy have won Cabela's gift cards and some cool DUC merch. Team DUC Saskatchewan had a great week talking program with prairie farmers and ranchers. We'll see you next year!

A common sight across Saskatchewan’s open farm country, western kingbirds can often be seen perched on fences watching for insects and any threats to their domain, including other kingbirds. And if either of those comes by, watch out; the genus name for kingbirds is Tyrannus for a reason. Meaning “tyrant, despot, or king,” the scientific name Tyrannus refers to the aggression kingbirds exhibit with each other and with other species. Mainly insectivorous, a kingbird may catch two or more insects before returning to its perch, and then shake or beat the bugs against the perch to subdue them.

This western kingbird was enjoying the conserved habitat found on a recent DUC rangeland project near Abernethy, Sask. And thanks to this species’ insect-hunting prowess, surrounding landowners were benefitting from the pest control provided.

In total, seven quarter sections encompassing over 1000 acres of grassland, wetland and bush have been conserved under a 10-year term on this rangeland parcel. (And because all habitat pics are just that much better with Billy in them, here he is, looking handsome as ever.) Photos: Aiden Bateman.

"Approaching each day with the attitude that you will make things better than they were yesterday — for your cattle, the land and how you treat other people." Congratulations to JPM Farms - Saskatchewan Angus ranch and DUC program partner - for earning the Certified Angus Beef 2023 Canadian Commitment to Excellence Award. Read their story here: https://www.angusjournal.net/post/excellence-by-everyday-improvement.

Excellence by Everyday Improvement Saskatchewan Angus ranch earns award for superior conservation and cattle production.

This free webinar is coming up on December 4 and will cover topics around the value of natural infrastructure to communities. Scan QR code to register! Or visit https://www.crowdcast.io/c/nature-of-resilience.

Nurturing wetlands is in our nature Nurturing wetlands for healthier soil is just one way some Canadian dairy farmers improve biodiversity on their way to Net-Zero by 2050. Proud to partner wit...

Shovel-head for the win.

Fork, spoon, or knife? None. Shovel is the way to go.

Northern shovelers are a species of waterfowl with a very specialized shovel-shaped bill. Their bill is lined with comb-like projections called lamellae, which help them sift through the substrate and shallow water in search of food.

📸Sandra Uecker/USFWS

Yeah, we say it a lot, and no, we never get tired of saying it! Few things make us happier than talking about our farm-gate conservation programs with Saskatchewan landowners. Earlier this month, DUC hosted a co-operator appreciation night in Humboldt. Conservation programs specialists, Caleb and Tess, had the pleasure of sharing information on our Ag Resource Tool (ART) maps and the new Marginal Areas incentive program offered by FCC, to a crowd of over 50 producers! Interested in how these programs could be a fit for your operation? Visit https://loom.ly/1vw5KqY

Team Wetland Restoration road trip! Last week, Billy and Aiden traveled to southeast Saskatchewan to oversee two new wetland restorations. They met up with Jessica and her spotties, Cimber and Mayza, as ditch plug construction was underway. These restored wetland basins will resume holding runoff next spring, and soon after, aquatic plants and wildlife will return, along with benefits to water quality and flood storage. Team Wetland Restoration thinks that's pretty great news!

When it comes to conserving the natural and cultural value of their land, everyone has their ‘why’. This landowner recently signed a DUC conservation easement on portions of nine quarter sections in the stunning rolling landscape of the RM of Heart’s Hill, protecting in perpetuity more than 1000 acres of native and tame grassland, wetlands, and other natural areas. With an interest in keeping the land intact for future generations, this easement has even greater significance to the family; included on a remote parcel of prairie is a rock pile monument honoring relatives no longer living. It’s our privilege to work with Saskatchewan landowners, and we continue to be moved by your stories, and your ‘why’s’.

Two more reasons to stop by the DUC booth at Canadian Western Agribition!

Hey!!!! Come join us at Agribition this week to learn more about what DUC does and also take the opportunity to buy SK Fi****ms Calendars and boat raffle tickets. We are here until Saturday! We are in booth 959 in AffintyPlex Hall. See you there!

Anyone who’s been up close and personal with a moose knows that they are BIG animals. But did you know that to keep that physique at its prime, a full-grown adult moose consumes around forty pounds of vegetation daily? Saskatchewan’s wetlands and other natural areas provide a good measure of this forage. Moose are browsers and will feed on a variety of species including aspen, poplar, and willow. Red osier dogwood is reputed to be the ice cream of the moose world! Particularly in spring and early summer, moose prefer aquatic vegetation, like duckweed and water lilies, that helps them replenish sodium and other minerals lost over the winter. Photos: snowy bull moose, Suzanne Joyce; moose in cattails and two moose, Chuck Deschamps.

It's always nice to see our talented agrologists featured in The Western Producer! In case you've never met her before, here's Lyse Boisvert! 👏👏👏

We're here all week, folks! Come say hello, grab some fun giveaways, and find out how DUC farm-gate conservation programs can benefit your operation. Booth 959 in AffinityPlex Hall @ Canadian Western Agribition!

Incredible journeys.

A was banded in 1940 in a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It was harvested in 1954 northwest of Mexico City, Mexico.

These two locations are roughly 3,000 miles apart. If this pintail migrated between these two locations every year throughout its known lifetime, the bird would have logged nearly 80,000 air miles.



photo: Pintail stretching its wings while sitting on water.
📸 Daniil Komov/Unsplash

There is just one week left to get your Early Bird Ticket pricing for this amazing event!! Click the link to find out more!!
Anyone who purchases early bird tickets is entered to win a pair of tickets to the Cirque Du Soleil performance of Corteo in Saskatoon on December 22nd!

Saskatoon Ladies Spring Sparkle - Masquerade in May I just joined Canada's leading effort to save wetlands, by purchasing tickets to the Ducks Unlimited Canada Saskatoon Ladies fundraising event. Learn how you can help too: https://support.ducks.ca/Saskatoon_Ladies_Masquerade

We're almost ready for Canadian Western Agribition next week! Come and see us at Booth #959 in AffinityPlex Hall! Program info, raffles, and lots of giveaways (not to mention charming and knowledgeable conservation professionals to answer all your questions 😁). See you there!

Brought to you by the wetlands of South and Central America... holy smokes, what a beaut! The sunbittern is a wading bird of rivers and swamps, but that's where the similarities to North American bittern species end. Its song is way easier on the ears for starters. You can listen to it here: https://ebird.org/species/sunbit1

- Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias).

- The sunbittern is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (sometimes spelled Eurypigidae) and genus Eurypyga.
- Photo by Supreet Sahoo

Be sure to visit the CFGA 2023 Conference event page to stay up to date on everything leading up to the 14th annual conference, Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 in Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.

When a costume change isn’t quite quick enough… we’ve likely all seen a white critter sticking out against a snowless background.

Seasonal coat colour molting is an important adaptation for animals living in Canada’s harsh, seasonal environments. Over 20 species of birds and mammals distributed across the northern hemisphere change from brown in the summer to completely white in the winter (and back again). But as climate change decreases the length of time we have snow on the ground, seasonally winter white species like this weasel, may end up being the wrong colour more often than right. The impact of this “camouflage mismatch” is of current interest to scientists. While we tend to enjoy warm winters with little to no snow, species that rely on the wintery white camouflage can have a tougher time.

Seen here in spring, this guy is still sporting his white pelage with a bit of brown appearing on the head and face.

Photo credit: Chuck Deschamps.

Link to FCC's Marginal Areas incentive program here 👇, as well as a number of other sustainability incentive programs being offered! 👍👍👍

It takes investment to make a farm more sustainable. With our Sustainability Incentive Program, eligible FCC customers who meet program requirements can receive up to $2,000. Apply by December 31.
https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/financing/agriculture/sustainability-incentive-program.html

It pays to be sustainable. Prairie producers who have participated in DUC’s Marginal Areas Program are now eligible for an additional incentive through Farm Credit Canada. If you’re an FCC customer who has also converted marginal areas on your farm to forage with DUC, you can apply for up to $2,000/year. More on this exciting announcement here! https://ag.ducks.ca/news/ducks-unlimited-canada-announces-partnership-with-fccs-sustainability-incentive-program/

Trees please! Along with extensive wetland and grassland areas, DUC's conservation work in Saskatchewan protects aspen bluffs and other wooded areas. When included in the mix of available habitat types, woody vegetation provides habitat for mammals, songbirds and beneficial predatory species like hawks and owls. Photos: Owl - Chuck Deschamps; Porcupine - Jessica Tremblay; Trees - Michelle Fischer.

😍 We just can't get enough fall project pics, like this habitat recently signed into our rangeland program! In addition to perpetual conservation easements, through DUC's rangeland program, we pay cash for term protection of land with water and grass. This landowner is conserving 630 acres across four quarter sections, including 140 acres of wetlands. Happy landowner, happy cattle, happy wildlife. More info on the rangeland program here: https://loom.ly/7h_ZzUo

Today we pause to remember and honour those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.

Our offices will be closed on Monday, November 13 in observance of Remembrance Day.

A great chance to meet Dr. Mitch in Saskatoon and hear about research projects he's involved in!

Join the Saskatoon Nature Society for their monthly speaker series on November 16 at 7:30pm at the University of Saskatchewan or online (by invitation). See below for full details ⬇

They're really just short-necked prairie giraffes.

Pronghorn, or pronghorn antelope, are not related to the antelope species found outside North America and are actually close cousins to giraffes! They are the second fastest land mammal in the world, surpassed only by the cheetah.

Historically, pronghorn ranged across much of the southern half of Saskatchewan, from Prince Albert to the U.S. border and from Alberta to Manitoba. Recent observations suggest the species is slowly reclaiming portions of this range. (The herd pictured here was observed in DUC’s Tramping Lake East program delivery area, just south of North Battleford.) But the largest concentrations of pronghorn are still found on the broad expanses of natural grassland habitat of southwestern Saskatchewan.

Pre-settlement, pronghorn are estimated to have numbered between 30-40 million animals. But overharvesting, habitat loss, and poor agricultural practices, along with drought and severe winters, all conspired to reduce their numbers to roughly 300 animals by the early 1920s. Conservation efforts, including hunting season closures, engaging the ranching community in conservation measures, and the establishment of now delisted protected areas designed for pronghorn preservation, helped populations recover to the point where a limited hunting season was opened in the mid-1930s. Systematic population surveys of the species over the past 75 years have allowed provincial wildlife managers to match harvest at a level that can be sustained.

Today, maintaining grasslands is key to successfully manage pronghorn at desired population levels. Over a century later, Saskatchewan’s ranching community is still playing a vital role.

Photo credit: Zoey Piecowye

The first-ever Young Agrarians Prairies Mixer is happening, December 2&3, 2023 in Saskatoon! Connect with regenerative farmers, food growers, local food enthusiasts, and tallgrass prairie advocates for two days of workshops and networking on Treaty 6 Territory.

Join for a weekend of community building, knowledge sharing, and storytelling. This year's theme is "Rooted, Grow Deep", an ode to what remains of the tallgrass prairie on the land on which we farm.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, Dec 2-3, 2023
WHERE: Beaver Creek Camp in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

COST: Tickets are pay-what-you-can in the suggested range of $50-$250. These tickets include accommodation, food from Fresh Dish Catering and education on Saturday and Sunday.

Learn more and register here: https://youngagrarians.org/prairiesmixer/

Are you curious about Saskatchewan’s future as it relates to power supply? Check out these sessions! There are lots of opportunities to join the conversation. https://engage.saskpower.com/future-power-supply

Isn't she lovely? DUC's Nevdoff Project conserves critical wildlife habitat across the northern reaches of the Missouri Coteau near Biggar, SK. The project encompasses over 800 acres of tame grassland and 53 wetlands covering nearly 200 acres. Grassland areas are managed by periodic cattle grazing through an agreement with a neighbouring farmer. And like all DUC-owned lands, this project is open to on foot hunting and other recreational uses, subject to some date restrictions. Learn more about accessing DUC properties here: https://loom.ly/odC0wvs. Drone photo credit: Zoey Piecowye.

We'll be there spreading the word about DUC's Marginal Areas Program and its benefits to Saskatchewan farmers and wildlife alike!

LEADERS IN THE FIELD🌾 Mark your calendars!

The Western Canadian Crop Production Show returns in a NEW 3-Day format starting Tuesday, January 9 to Thursday, January 11, 2024 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - TICKETS & event details coming soon!

Prairie amphibians!!! 💚😍🐸

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Diet Analysis of Prairie Amphibians . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Speaker: Jordan Vos from the University of Lethbridge About this Webinar: Amphibians remain one of the more understudied groups of animals, and as such, many species often lack fundamental data about their dietary habits. Jordan Vos, a master’s student at the University of Lethbridge, aims to fill...