Port O’Conner -

Migratory birds making their way to the Gulf of Mexico this winter will find sanctuary with ample habitat and food on Clay Wiatrek’s farm in Calhoun County. Wiatrek will be able to provide this refuge with the help of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) new Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative.

“This initiative is providing farmers, ranchers and landowners an opportunity to manage their land to provide additional food, cover and space for migrating birds within the Central Flyway, and the western edge of the Mississippi Flyway,” said Don Gohmert, NRCS state conservationist. “The additional diversified habitats provided by Texas landowners through this initiative will provide a variety of habitats to meet the needs of the different species of migratory birds traveling south to the Gulf of Mexico, which has been adversely impacted by the oil from the Deepwater Horizon well.”

Wiatrek, who worked with local NRCS personnel in Calhoun County to develop a conservation plan that will serve to provide recommendations on the management of his farm’s wetlands resources. Through this new initiative, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) funding will be utilized to ensure the conservation practices are implemented. Wiatrek signed the first Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative contract in Texas. He will be working with NRCS to develop habitat management plans that include levee maintenance, shallow disking and water assurance. Shallow disking will serve to promote an increase in food availability and value. Shallow water management will be carried out by flooding and maintaining water levels on 227-acres of his 250-acre farm near Port O’Conner.

Wiatrek bought the rice farm about six years ago after enjoying the variety of birds on the property for several years. He has worked with NRCS since then on efforts to improve the land for water fowl and other migratory birds and had also visited about programs to help him reach his land management goals.

“I have been a fan of all water fowl and appreciated the variety of species on this land,” said Wiatrek, who converted the rice fields into crawfish production. “With the increasing water costs and the economy, I was not going to be able to flood this area this year and was looking for technical and financial assistance to make things work out. With this program, I will be able to develop food sources and keep water on the area during winter, which will provide crucial habitat for thousands of migratory birds, shorebirds and other water fowl, including Mottled Duck, Pintail Duck and the Lesser Scaup.”

Wiatrek signed a one-year contract under WHIP, which will allow him the ability to provide the water, immediately upon completion of the contracting requirements this week.

“Water will be applied this week in order to ensure early migrating species like Blue-winged Teal, have access to the important habitat,” said Garry Stephens, NRCS wildlife biologist. “Lowering and raising the water over the course of the winter, from moist soil habitats to water no greater than 18 inches in depth, will provide a benefit for other classes of bird life as well.”

The farm has several levees, which is beneficial in allowing Wiatrek to control water levels. This will serve to provide different habitat for different species’ needs, such as diving ducks which like deeper water compared to dabbling ducks, which prefer shallower water; as well as shorebirds, which use the mud flats and shallow water.
“Birds, including non-game species, use the land year round, but migrating Blue-winged Teal appear by the end of August through Labor Day, with September seeing the largest number of winter watering fowl and neo-tropical birds coming through to stage up as they make their way to Central America and Mexico,” said Wiatrek.

“The vegetation which has grown prior to flooding will provide an important food source during the winter and the water being added as a result of the initiative will provide habitat for resting and nesting” said Victoria District Conservationist, Leroy Mikeska.

Texas NRCS is working in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, to deliver this program to landowners in eight states in priority areas that offer the greatest habitat potential for migrating bird populations. 
 
“I have been a lifelong member of Duck Unlimited and know firsthand the importance of protecting this crucial habitat that otherwise would have dried up and no longer been available,” said Wiatrek. “I deeply appreciate NRCS and the others who have stepped up to the plate to provide me and other landowners the opportunity to do our part in helping migratory birds that might have otherwise been adversely impacted by the oil spill.”

By Melissa Blair, USDA-NRCS Public Affairs Specialist

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