By Wanda Gorsuch

Every summer Delta Waterfowl hosts a gathering of students, giving them the opportunity to present their current research work. Not only do the students get to practice their presentation skills, but they also have a chance to talk with other waterfowl enthusiasts – their peers, professors and professionals alike. It is like the United Nations of the duck world with students coming from all across North America, working on topics ranging from rice fields to brood survival to DNA.

Thursday evening Jonathan Scarth, President and Dr. Serge Larivière, Scientific Director opened the weekend with talks about the Delta Waterfowl Foundation and the Student Program. Friday and Saturday saw 26 Delta students, both past and present, wow the audience with great presentations on their research. Proof of the quality of presentations can be demonstrated by the fact that of the 24 speakers eligible for the ‘Best Presentation Award’, 19 made it to the final draw.

In addition to student presentations, there were several guest presentations given through out the weekend by visiting professors and professionals. Guest presenters were as follows: Dr. John Eadie (University of California); Richard Labossiere and Trevor Wyatt (Federal Game Officers – Canada); Dr. Gary Hepp (Auburn University); Dr. Wendy Reed (North Dakota State University); Dr. Scott Petrie (Research Director of Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund) and Dr. Malcolm Butler (North Dakota State University).

As a change of pace, Val Lucas, Delta’s current artist in resident, presented some of her work from the summer. Working mostly in oils, she displayed a range of art from simple landscapes of the marsh to intricate abstracts that incorporated birds such as cedar wax wing, spectacled eider and lesser scaup.

Seminars were wrapped up on Saturday evening by a simple awards ceremony. For several years the California Waterfowl Association has made a generous donation for the ‘Best Student Presentation’ award. This year, Dr. Rick Kaminski of Mississippi State University stepped forward and made a matching donation enabling Delta to give an award for the “Best Presentation by a Master’s Student” as well as an award for the “Best Presentation by a Ph.D. Student”.

Ryan Harrigan from Boston University was the winner of the “Best Presentation by a Ph.D. Student” award for his interesting talk on “Asymmetrical hybridization in Black Ducks and Mallards”. Ryan accomplished the near impossible by making the world of hybridization and DNA both interesting and understandable. Luke Naylor from the University of California was awarded the “Best Presentation by a Masters Student” for his comprehensive talk on “Evaluating moist soil management techniques to increase waterfowl food production in California’s Central Valley”.

(left to right) Dr. Rick Kaminski, Luke Naylor, Ryan Harrigan, Bob McLandress - President of the California Waterfowl Association, and Forrest Dillemuth.

It wasn’t all hard work over the weekend. There were amazing meals prepared by the hard working kitchen staff, a photo workshop taught by Fred Greenslade (Delta’s photographer and webmaster), and a sporting clay shoot. Saturday night was a bonfire on the beach with refreshments generously donated by the California Waterfowl Association, Joe Carlson and Tom Hutchens. Despite the mosquito’s it was a great night with conversation ranging from the latest hunting gear to the philosophy of research.

Delta Waterfowl would like to thank all those people who took the time out of their busy schedules to attend this event and hope to see everyone back at the Marsh again soon.