Continental duck populations have increased over last year to record levels, and
their habitat conditions have improved, according to a U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service report released Wednesday.
The preliminary estimate for the total duck population is 49.2 million
birds, an 8 percent increase over last year's estimate of 45.6 million
birds, and 43 percent above the long-term average.
It's also the highest population recorded during the annual surveys.
"This spring, as has been the case for the past several years, saw abundant moisture across much of North America's most important duck breeding areas," said DU Chief Biologist Scott Yaich.
"That bodes well for duck breeding success this summer and, we hope, for hunting this fall. But we remain concerned with the continuing and escalating loss of nesting habitat in these areas."
Added Yaich: "Because ducks need water, wetlands to hold the water and upland habitats to successfully raise their young, the ongoing loss of grasslands and wetlands across the Prairie Pothole Region will increasingly impact the number of ducks in the fall flight in the long-term."
Meanwhile, the report also provides abundance estimates for individual duck species,
including mallard, blue-winged teal, northern pintail, American wigeon,
lesser and greater scaup, and canvasback, all of which are similar to or
slightly above last year's totals. Most species' populations, such as
mallard and blue-winged teal, remain significantly above the long-term
average, while others, including scaup and pintail are still below.
Here are some details:
* Estimated mallard abundance is 10.9 million birds, similar to last
year's estimate of 10.4 million birds and 42% above the long-term average.
* Blue-winged teal estimated abundance is 8.5 million, which is 10%
above the 2013 estimate of 7.7 million, and 75% above the long-term average.
