The gates to the impoundments on Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area, accessed from Woods Rd. in Cape May County, will be closed from February 16 through March 15, 2023, to reduce disturbance to migrating waterfowl.  Waterfowl feed heavily in these impoundments to build fat reserves for their upcoming flights to northern breeding grounds.

Dabbling ducks, particularly pintails, as well as mallards, wigeon and black ducks, begin their spring northward migration to Canadian breeding grounds in late winter.  The spring migration is spurred by the lengthening daylight and slowly-warming days of late winter. The first northbound ducks usually appear in mid-February.  This migration peaks about March 1 but continues into mid-March.  Green-winged teal also arrive in abundance just a bit later, usually during early March in most years. 

These ducks make short, hop-like migrations, often following the ice line as it moves north.  As they go, they feed intensively to build fat reserves for the upcoming migration.  Hens especially, need protein and fat stores to ensure having adequate energy for productive egg-laying.  Shallow impoundments, like those on Tuckahoe WMA, have historically been used by dabbling ducks during spring migration.  Duck use during spring migration has increased in recent years at Tuckahoe WMA in response to impoundment restoration and management completed by Ducks Unlimited and NJ Fish & Wildlife over the past few years.  About March 1, nearly 10,000 ducks will be using Tuckahoe WMA as their feeding grounds.         

A common waterfowl management strategy is to provide a quality habitat reasonably free from disturbance to allow ducks to maximize feeding opportunities for nutrient gathering.  To provide a quality foraging habitat for spring migrating ducks, the impoundment roads on the Tuckahoe side of the WMA will be closed to all vehicles from February 16 through March 15, 2023. 

On the Corbin City side of the WMA, where the impoundments are larger and allow ducks more space to move away from roads, the roads will remain open during this period.