Minnesota DNR faces smoke from Canadian wildfires on the spring waterfowl survey

Steve Cordts, Minnesota DNR waterfowl staff specialist, has flown the state’s May aerial waterfowl survey for 18 years. During his years counting ducks, geese, swans, and other migratory birds, Cordts said high winds, thunderstorms, fog, and snow have all conspired against him and his pilot from flying the survey on any number of spring days. This year, another natural happening kept them grounded. “Smoke,” he said. “Heavy smoke.”