Cape Cod Waterfowl
Cape cod is a waterfowler s paradise as a large number of diverse species of birds migrate thousands of miles to winter in massachusetts.
Cape cod waterfowl. In early november of 1983 cape birder and prototypical citizen scientist blair nikula organized members of the cape cod bird club to count waterfowl on the freshwater lakes and ponds of the cape. Sea duck hunting waterfowl guide service captain len greiner has been guiding duck hunting parties for 20 years. Get a chance at trophy sea ducks for the wall and to experience waterfowl hunting on scenic cape cod. Waterfowl are relatively conspicuous generally easy to identify and thus readily censused with only a modest effort.
Multiple day hunting packages are offered for hunters coming from out of town. The number of waterfowl recorded has varied greatly from a low of 6782 individuals in 2005 to a high of 13 637 in 1998 and the number of. The census continued the following year but was moved to the first weekend in december. Many ducks and geese do not arrive on cape cod until inland bodies of water freeze and the later date would more closely coincide with peak water fowl numbers locally.
Join us for the hunt of a lifetime. Chatham the monomoy national wildlife refuge is expanding recreational activities but will not include coyote hunting. Covering 202 ponds participants tallied 3 957 individuals of 22 species of waterfowl. The cape cod waterfowl census is an excellent example of one way in which birders regardless of their expertise can gather useful data and make a meaningful contribution to our knowledge of the massachusetts avifauna.
This is the ultimate cape cod waterfowling experience where hunters have the opportunity to hunt different locations each day and target a variety of waterfowl species. An original proposal included allowing recreational waterfowl hunting in waters west of south monomoy island and a coyote hunt program in 3 000 acres of upland on north and south monomoy islands. Since 1984 the cape cod bird club has conducted an annual survey of waterfowl on cape cod ponds and lakes. We also offer hunts on cape cod massachusetts the last two weeks of our season for customers wanting to hunt the sandy dunes of the cape with options such as atlantic brant.
The survey takes place on the first weekend in december and covers well over 300 water bodies.