COLLEGE STATION, Texas — On Aug. 27, Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service will host “FOWL Language: Management for Waterfowl Success,” a workshop where AgriLife specialists and other resource professionals teach landowners, managers, hunters and conservation professionals to better understand the principles of waterfowl habitat management.
The workshop will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Calhoun County in Port Lavaca, Texas. The workshop costs $35 and includes educational materials, field activities, and a light lunch sponsored by the Calhoun County Marine Advisory Committee, Texas A&M AgriLife said in the workshop announcement.
“Whether you manage a moist-soil unit, duck pond, wetland impoundment, ranch, or recreational property, this program will provide practical tools and science-based recommendations to help you create and maintain quality waterfowl habitat,” Dr. Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation management specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, said.
The workshop will begin with morning classroom sessions before moving on to a field tour of a managed wetland.
The program’s covered topic will include:
- Aquatic vegetation management for waterfowl habitats
- Predator and nuisance animal management
- Brush identification and management
- Identification of beneficial and nuisance wetland plants
- Water fluctuations and successional habitat management
- Managing coastal landscapes for waterfowl
- Native wetland vegetation for waterfowl habitat
- Water management strategies for permanently flooded impoundments
Because a significant portion of the program will take place outdoors in coastal wetland environments, participants should dress appropriately for field conditions and be prepared for heat, sun exposure, insects and potentially wet or muddy terrain, Texas A&M AgriLife advised.
It is recommended that participants bring:
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Extra drinking water
- Comfortable outdoor clothing, including sunglasses and a hat
- Closed-toe shoes or boots that can get wet and muddy
Advanced registration is required at https://tx.ag/WaterFOWL. For more information, contact Brittany Chesser at brittany.chesser@tamu.edu.
