Woodcock Banding with Citizen Scientists (and Dogs!) with Bailey Petersen

Artemis

Bailey Petersen helps facilitate Minnesota's woodcock banding program, which enlists the help of volunteer dog handlers. Dogs have to pass a control test before they're approved to join. We talk about steadiness in a bird dog, protective vests, and breeds - from Münsterländers to Llewellin setters. Plus: Grouse hunting in Minnesota... what to look for and what differentiates grouse habitat from woodcock habitat.

1:30 A little woodcock 'splash' for your sniffing pleasure, everyone

3:30 Harvesting wild rice... it involves a 'ricing buddy', a canoe, and tools called 'knockers'

7:00 Agencies working hand-in-hand with non-profits on habitat restoration

10:00 When a professional interest in healthy lakes leads you to appreciate waterfowl in a new way

11:00 Small Münsterländer; Llewellin Setter

13:00 Finding 'your' dog breed

15:00 Skijoring with your dogs

22:00 Minnesota's woodcock banding program

24:00 Recruiting new human/dog woodcock-banding teams

28:00 Testing dogs: It's about steadiness and control

32:00 The 2-week banding season overlaps with hatching

34:00 Finding a nest is an exercise in extreme caution

38:00 Steadiness training... start with "whoa," then add a temptation

43:00 Band return rates on woodcock are 11%, which isn't too bad

45:00 "If you have a cooperative dog, then it's really just an exercise of repetition."

46:00 Grouse hunting Minnesota, a pep talk

47:00 Hunter walking trails on OnX

50:00 Woodcock cover vs. grouse cover... "It becomes grouse cover after it's been prime woodcock cover."

52:00 For grouse, look for fruiting shrubs (chokecherries, highbush cranberries, hazel, birch)

58:00 Protective dog vests

1:05 Seeds embedded in dogs... #problems

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