Missouri Department of Conservation/Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Event

Since 2009, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Protection, Wildlife and Fisheries divisions have worked together to provide an annual youth event at Otter Slough Conservation Area, along with volunteers from the local Ducks Unlimited (DU) committee. The primary activity of the event is trapping mourning doves and wood ducks, then providing youth the opportunity to assist wildlife biologists as they collect biological data, band and release each bird. DU volunteers donate their time for trap construction, baiting trap sites, placing and monitoring traps and, on the day of the event, remove birds from the traps and transport captured birds to area headquarters. Fisheries Division also provides an electrofishing demonstration and explains basic principles of fisheries data collection, methods for aging fish, etc. The event is attended each year by 75 youth along with approximately 50 parents.

Goals for event:

• Introduce youth and their families to fish and wildlife management practices and give them hands on experience with MDC professionals in the field
• Encourage youth the pursue careers in fisheries and wildlife management
• Strengthens Otter Slough’s link with the community and strengthens MDC/DU relationship
• Encourages better stewardship of our wildlife resources
• Migratory bird banding management goals with US Fish & Wildlife Service