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Hullett Research
It is a misconception that Hullett is managed specifically for waterfowl. Other species are given equal consideration, however, waterfowl are a key wetland indicator species and a healthy waterfowl population indicates a healthy wetland. Over the past three decades, waterfowl research has gone on at Hullett in various forms and research continues this year with a waterfowl banding program where birds are live trapped, banded and released unharmed.
Due to the fact that waterfowl are cross-border migrants, these birds are jointly managed by both Canadian and U.S. authorities in the interests of conservation.
Working with its partners from the U.S., the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources receives funding and assistance through the Ontario Waterfowl Management Fund from the Atlantic Flyway Council, Mississippi Flyway Council and the US Fish & Wildlife Service to continue and maintain the provincial banding program as a part of a larger national and international co-operative.
The Hullett Marsh is one of the designated banding sites and information collected on waterfowl at Hullett include age, sex and species . This information is used to set hunting seasons, bag limits and it provides ‘trend over time data’ that helps natural resource managers study survivability, migration patterns and to indirectly determine the overall health of our landscape.
If you happen to be out at the Marsh while this research is taking place and you have any questions you may contact the Hullett office. If you come upon a trap out in the Marsh, please feel free to observe, but do so at a distance. The traps are checked twice daily, and the birds will be comfortable even when captive, but coming too close will cause the birds unnecessary stress and reduce the effectiveness of the trap itself.
