Editors' Page

We are building a Birdscapes tradition: to date, the covers of its fall issues have featured a waterfowl species. In North America, the fall season, with its crisp air and landscapes swathed in rusts, reds, oranges, and yellows, cues into mind the waterfowl hunting season. While that may cause some to wince, we believe we owe our waterfowlers a debt of gratitude for the support they’ve given to habitat conservation.

Waterfowlers long ago realized that the only way they would be able to continue to enjoy their hunting heritage was through conservation. They have contributed billions of dollars to conserving waterfowl habitats through donations to national conservation organizations. Through their memberships in state and provincial waterfowl associations and North American Waterfowl Management Plan joint ventures, they invest their money and time in regional and local conservation projects. The wetlands maintained by local duck hunting clubs provide vital links in the chain of habitats needed by waterfowl throughout the flyways. Through the Pittman-Robertson Act, they pay taxes on firearms and ammunition, and they purchase Federal Duck Stamps for the privilege of hunting—monies from these programs are directed to habitat conservation. They willingly do all of this to conserve waterfowl populations, but every other species using these same habitats, whether it be a shorebird, songbird, colonial waterbird, reptile, amphibian, insect, fish, or mammal, benefits.

This issue of Birdscapes abounds with waterfowl stories. “The Heart of the Hunt” featured in the Nature’s Inspiration department will give readers a perspective of hunting not oft spoken. Canadian research articles relate information useful for wood duck and mallard management. Project Profile stories deliver the what’s-good-for-waterfowl-is-good-for-other-species, and even good-for-ranching, nexus. We’ve also issued a bird ID challenge: “Name That Tail,” a little quiz found in the In an Eggshell department will determine how well you really know your waterfowl, and some other wetland-associated species, too. The Furthermore department takes you to Mexico’s most important waterfowl resorts, then on to Nicaragua for a look at efforts to expand ongoing waterfowl surveys throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In the How To department, you’ll find new ways to restore coastal habitats to benefit not only wintering waterfowl but also American alligators and fish.

We have plenty of good news to share about other birds we care about, too. Articles starring the broad-winged hawk, American oystercatcher, Gould’s wild turkey, and snowy plover, among others, inspire us to go out and do more for wildlife conservation—and that’s what Birdscapes is all about.