Duck Science at Scale: AI, Satellites & the Future of Conservation (Ep 776) — Ducks Unlimited Podcast

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Waterfowl science is entering a new era — and Ducks Unlimited is right in the middle of it.

In this episode, host Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by co‑host Dr. Jerad Henson and guest Dr. Patrick Donnelly, Research Scientist with Ducks Unlimited’s Western Region, for a deep dive into how emerging technologies are transforming the way we understand ducks, wetlands, and flyways.

Patrick brings decades of experience from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, joint ventures, and academia, and now applies cutting‑edge tools like AI, cloud computing, GPS telemetry, remote sensing, and environmental DNA to answer some of the most important conservation questions at continental scales.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

Patrick Donnelly’s journey from the Fish & Wildlife Service to Ducks Unlimited
Movement ecology and why scale matters for migratory birds
How GPS transmitters revolutionized waterfowl research
Using satellite imagery to map wetlands across 40+ years
“Functional wetland loss” and why water matters as much as land protection
The role of snowpack, hydrology, and climate in western wetlands
Disease risk, botulism, and crowding during molting periods
Linking bird movements, habitat conditions, and time
The Western Mallard Project and tracking 800 birds across the Pacific Flyway
Sentinel and Landsat satellites explained in plain language
Cloud computing and why conservation can now run at scale
Using citizen‑science data (eBird) alongside satellite data
New applications of environmental DNA (yes — duck poop)
How AI helps identify patterns humans can’t see
Training the next generation of conservation scientists
Why this moment feels like a “second revolution” in waterfowl science

This episode pulls back the curtain on how Ducks Unlimited is using modern science to maximize conservation return on investment, ensuring that every dollar delivers the greatest benefit for waterfowl now and into the future.

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.

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