Sad changes found in wildlife habitat conditions - #lakewoodnews

I don't know if it's because this is my birthday week and I am reminded of how many years I have sat in duck or goose blinds or chased pheasants, or if the end of January reminds me hunting seasons are closing out for the year, or if annual meetings of the various wildlife organizations are being scheduled ...

But every year about now I go back in time and reflect on the status of wildlife and how populations and habitat conditions have changed.

All who hunt pheasants are well aware of the limited pheasant resource we have in Colorado. But it is not because the Colorado Division of Wildlife (for decades) or the new Colorado Parks and Wildlife (of late) have not made significant efforts to maintain and restore both bird numbers and habitat. I am a cheerleader for these agencies. Thanks to their efforts, we havewalk-in lands in northeastern and southeastern regions of Colorado open to the public. Some have been augmented with food source plantings. We also have thousands of acres of state wildlife areas. Plus, we have a vast number of state parks, many of which allow hunting.

But for this brief moment, go back with me to the early and mid-1940s when my father and family joined my uncle and aunt --; who lived and farmed dry-land acres in Washington and Morgan counties between Brush and Akron --; each fall during the waterfowl and pheasant hunting seasons. I tagged along with them as a very young pre-aged hunter.

What I vividly remember is how that region was blessed with significant snowfall in the winter and faithful rain moisture during the summer months. Prairie potholes and ponds were brimming with water in the fall and winter. The mallard duck numbers were at their peak and pheasant populations were strong and abundant.

Dryland cornfields, wheat and sorghum fields provided sufficient food source to keep the migrating waterfowl stationed in that area for most of the hunting seasons. And the lush moisture provided heavily weeded fence lines, thick brush cover, prairie grass fields and an ample supply of insects and grain for the pheasant population.

I revisit the High Plains area occasionally and see a different landscape. Mother Nature has not been as kind in recent decades with rain and snow. The potholes are dry. There is less bird habitat cover and farmers struggle to produce crops with declining moisture.

What has emerged since that era are a number of wildlife support organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. And they offer sportsmen an opportunity to help enhance pheasant populations. Here are three nearby approaching pheasant banquets and fundraisers: Greeley-Cache La Poudre Chapter, Feb. 27, 970-590-3671 for information; Northern Colorado Loveland, March 5, 303-709-4450; and Metro Denver, March 12, 303-902-2334. These are family- and youth-oriented events that help restore pheasant numbers and valuable habitat.

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