U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - the results of our 2024 Waterfowl Population Status Report are in. 🦆 Here's some nuggets from the report: * This year marks the first increase (+5%) in total surveyed breeding ducks since 2015 * Habitat and breeding numbers improved in Alaska and British Columbia * Eastern area duck numbers increased in 5 out of the 6 species * Prairie pond estimates increased 4% from 2023 The annual Waterfowl Population Status Report summarizes the most current data and estimates on the breeding population and habitat conditions of most North American duck species, several populations of geese, tundra swans, and American coot. Annual status of these populations is monitored and assessed via a combination of aerial and ground crew surveys across 2 million square miles. If you want to swan dive into more of this year's data, check out the comments to see the whole report. Video of a drake ruddy duck performing a courtship display by Tom Koerner/USFWS

Skin, Scales, and Scat oh my! Environmental DNA, or eDNA for short, is a tool that can be used to monitor the presence of a species in the water, on land, or even in the air. This emerging technology looks for DNA that has been “shed” into the environment from skin cells, scales, or waste, which is a nice way of saying poo. 😉 Our biologists use eDNA monitoring to detect invasive, imperiled, or even rare species. It can also be used to better understand how species are using habitats, what their movement patterns are, and provide early detection of invasive species spreading from one system to another. This information, when paired with other ways of monitoring, helps natural resource professionals make scientifically informed decisions about how to protect native species and their habitats. Pretty neat! #UnleashTheScience Photo of a person collecting eDNA at the Okanogan River by Ann Grote/USFWS

The MENTOR-Bat Workshop in Indonesia marks a big flight forward in evidence-based global bat conservation 🌍🦇 The MENTOR-Bat program held its second in-person workshop in Yogyakarta, Indonesia this week. This high-level event, led by our cooperative partner Bat Conservation International, brought together emerging conservation leaders from Cameroon, Colombia, and Indonesia that are dedicated to advancing One Health approaches to bat conservation. As the program continues to progress, we look forward to the culmination of ground-breaking projects in a final event at the MENTOR Conservation Leadership Forum in Cameroon in September 2025. And if all goes to plan - they'll be gathering and applying evidence every step of the way! Photo of participants of the MENTOR-Bat August workshop standing together outside in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of Bat Conservation International

WARNING: Extreme cuteness. An adorable white tern chick, or manu-o-Kū, orients itself to the new world around it on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, at the northwest end of the Hawaiian archipelago. Manu-o-Kū lay one egg at a time and have no need for nests, placing their eggs directly on tree branches, windowsills or anything else with a suitable depression. By the end of this month, most of the manu-o-Kū chicks will have fledged from the refuge that is a nesting home to millions of seabirds. USFWS volunteer video: Dan Rapp Video description: Close-up of white, downy bird chick with black eyes and bill, standing still but moving its head around and slow blinking.

Join our team as a WILDLIFE REFUGE SPECIALIST based at our Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Elk Grove, California. Wildlife refuge specialist duties include collecting and analyzing data, carrying out work assignments involving technical biological and habitat restoration/development projects, participating in refuge interpretive and educational programs, and more. Deadline to apply: August 30, 2024. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eUvckeMz Photo of sandhill cranes at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge by USFWS

Salmon are on the tail end, or caudal end for you fish people, of their journey into fresh water spawning grounds. Every summer, runs of salmon make their way up fresh water creeks and rivers across Alaska and other areas of the Pacific coast. These Coho salmon, also known as Silver salmon, are making their way up Campbell Creek in Anchorage, AK. But why aren't they silver? When they return from the ocean to fresh water they are silver in color. Over time spawning adults will turn a maroon to reddish color. A great way to tell them apart from Chinook salmon are looking for a Coho's white gums. Video: Coho Salmon in Campbell Creek of Anchorage, AK by Katrina Liebich

This year our Urban Bird Treaty Program is funding five community-based conservation projects through its participation in the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program. For the 2024 grant funding cycle, we contributed funds supporting projects in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, New Mexico, Arizona and Connecticut. Check out the comments to learn more about each conservation project. Photo of an urban oasis at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, Connecticut. Photo by USFWS

For many young adults, knowing what career to pursue and how to get there can be daunting. For those interested in the environmental field, internships are a fantastic way to gain valuable experience through on-the-ground conservation work. From acoustic bat surveying to pollinator conservation, interns at the Chesapeake Bay Field Office had a year filled with accomplishments that will provide lasting benefits to wildlife for years to come! https://lnkd.in/gr9E_Nuf

Monarch migration kicks off in mid-August and runs to mid-November. These butterflies only travel during the day, so what do they do at night? Groups of butterflies ranging from a handful to hundreds will roost in trees along the way! 📷 Jessica Bolser/USFWS

Join our team as a HYDROLOGIST with our Reno Fish and Wildlife Office in Nevada. This position will lead hydrology related investigations, evaluate biological and hydrology data, coordinate with partners and more! Reno, nestled adjacent to the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe, has abundant outdoor recreation and sporting opportunities. This is because of the area’s spectacular natural beauty, average 300 days of sunshine per year, international airport, and proximity to year-round, outdoor sports. There are 20 ski/snowboard resorts as close as 25 minutes from downtown Reno, and most within an hour’s drive. There is also ample paddle boarding, hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing and rock climbing opportunities. Apply by August 22, 2024: https://lnkd.in/gxMbXkc6 Photo by USFWS