Northwest Territories Survey Continues

Written by Fred Roetker
Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Photo of Fred Roetker.The NWT crew is making steady progress northward. Habitat looks good, especially in light of the early spring break up. Water levels on many lakes are ideal, with miles and miles of grassy shoreline available for nesting ducks. We've begun surveying the Mackenzie Delta. These wetlands offer incredible diversity, with perched ponds adjacent to the silt-laden waters of the Mackenzie River. We will be in Inuvik, NWT by June 4 and expect to begin the final tundra transects over the weekend.

Grassy shorelines provide nesting cover (Credit: F. Caleb Spiegel, USFWS)

Grassy shorelines provide nesting cover Credit: Caleb Spiegel, USFWS

Typical NWT wetland (Credit: F. Caleb Spiegel, USFWS)

Typical NWT wetland Credit: Caleb Spiegel, USFWS

Mackenzie River Delta, note wetland diversity with perched ponds adjacent to the silt laden waters of the Mackenzie River. (Credit: F. Caleb Spiegel, USFWS)

Mackenzie River Delta, note wetland diversity with perched ponds adjacent to the silt laden waters of the Mackenzie River. Credit: Caleb Spiegel, USFWS