Researchers Tagging Choptank Ducks

(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – As the sun’s coming up on the waters of the Choptank River, researchers George Williams, and Mikey Priest are conducting research they’ve traveled over 1,500 miles for: Surveying and tagging ducks who call the Mid-Shore their home.

“We’re working on a study, with the university and partnering with Delta Waterfowl to, sort of investigate, Canvas Backs, specifically female Canvas Backs, And, you know, find out where they go…” says Priest.

They’ve been tagging ducks on the Choptank throughout the previous few weeks.

And the tagging is helping to ensure the survival of several species of ducks by monitoring their migration patterns.

“We’re putting geo locators on them so we can go see where they breed. And that just adds, when we get that information, it just gives us more ability to apply conservation methods to protect the species across its whole range,” says George.

And that tagging is greatly appreciated by the people who live on the banks of the Choptank River; as it’s helping to keep the ecosystem in a perfect balance.

Seasonal resident, Eleanor Allen tells WMDT, “The research is wonderful. We’ve got a lot of issues here with, being on the coastline and the changing weather, the migration pattern. So I think I’m looking forward to see what they’re up to and, and what they’re studying.”

And as the researchers continue to monitor ducks on the chop tank, they’ll be keeping a close eye on the ducks over the course of the next year.