Delta Waterfowl Foundation

Delta Waterfowl Foundation is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of waterfowl populations and their habitats across North America. Registered under the business number 119058998RR0001, the foundation operates in both Canada and the United States, focusing on sustaining the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting through science-based programs and habitat conservation efforts.

History

The roots of Delta Waterfowl trace back to the 1930s when James Ford Bell, a sportsman and founder of General Mills, purchased 5,000 acres of the Delta Marsh in Manitoba, Canada, to support waterfowl hunting and conservation. Bell initiated efforts to raise and release waterfowl from a private hatchery. In 1938, Bell collaborated with Aldo Leopold, a pioneer in wildlife management, and his graduate student Hans Albert Hochbaum from the University of Wisconsin–Madison to establish a research station focused on waterfowl. This partnership contributed significantly to the early scientific study of breeding duck ecology and habitat research.

Mission and Activities

The foundation's mission is to secure the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting by implementing programs grounded in scientific research. Delta Waterfowl focuses on:

• Duck Production: Enhancing waterfowl populations through breeding and release programs.
• Habitat Conservation: Protecting and restoring wetlands and other critical waterfowl habitats.
• Research: Conducting ecological and behavioral studies to inform conservation strategies.
• Hunter Recruitment and Retention: Through initiatives like HunteR3, which aims to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters.
• Education: Offering resources such as the Duck and Goose Hunting 101 course to train and educate new hunters.

Delta Waterfowl organizes North America's largest events dedicated to duck hunting, open to the public, which serve to engage and educate hunters and conservationists alike.

Impact

With a membership base exceeding 62,000 and supported by hundreds of volunteers, Delta Waterfowl is recognized among the top conservation groups in promoting wildlife and game land protection for hunters and anglers. Their science-driven approach and community involvement have made significant contributions to maintaining healthy waterfowl populations and habitats, benefiting both conservation and the hunting community.

Additional Resources

Delta Waterfowl provides various educational publications and tools, including waterproof waterfowl identification guides developed in collaboration with experts such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and up-to-date migration tracking reports on dabbling duck species to help hunters and conservationists monitor waterfowl movements.

This overview highlights Delta Waterfowl Foundation as a pivotal organization in North American waterfowl conservation, blending scientific research with active hunter engagement to ensure sustainable waterfowl populations for future generations.