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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The preliminary 2006 Waterfowl Breeding Ground Population and Habitat Survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates a total duck population of more than 36 million; or a 14 percent increase from last year's estimate and 9 percent above the 1955-2005 average.
The survey indicated an increase in the quality of waterfowl breeding habitat in the United States and Canada from 2005. Improvements in Canadian and U.S. prairie habitats were primarily due to average to above-average precipitation, warm spring temperatures and the good summer conditions of 2005. The higher number of ponds counted in Prairie Canada this year relative to last are a strong indicator of the improved habitat conditions.
"There's a lot of good news in the survey this year for the total duck population and waterfowl breeding habitat," said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Most species increased above the estimates of last year and numbers were above the long term baseline.
We're especially excited about the fact that while pintail populations are below their historic average numbers, the survey shows a 32 percent increase in pintail population from the previous year. However, wigeon and scaup are not experiencing those positive trends and that's cause for concern."
The Waterfowl Breeding Ground Population and Habitat Survey, the largest and most comprehensive survey of its kind in the world, samples 1.3 million square miles across the north-central United States, south central and northern Canada, and Alaska. The survey estimates the number of ducks in the continent's most important nesting grounds.
Annual survey results help guide the Service in managing waterfowl conservation programs under authority of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Service works in partnership with state representatives from the four flyways - the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific - that waterfowl and other birds use during their migrations to establish regulatory frameworks for waterfowl hunting season lengths, dates and bag limits.
Highlights from the survey in the north-central United States, south central and northern Canada, and Alaska include:
Mallard abundance was 7.3 million birds, which was similar to last year's estimate of 6.8 million birds and the long-term average.
Blue-winged teal abundance was 5.9 million birds. This value was 28 percent greater than last year's estimate of 4.6 million birds and 30 percent above the long-term average.
The estimated abundance of green-winged teal at 2.6 million was 20 percent greater than last year and 39 percent above the long-term average.
The estimated number of 2.8 million gadwall was 30 percent greater than last year and was 67 percent above the long-term average; whereas the estimated number of 916,000 redheads increased 55 percent over 2005 and was 47 percent above the long-term average.
Canvasbacks numbered 691,000, 33 percent higher than last year and 23 percent over the long-term average.
Northern shovelers at 3.7 million were 69 percent above their long-term average.
Although the numbers of most species increased over last year and were greater than their long-term averages, American wigeon at 2.2 million and scaup (lesser and greater combined; 3.2 million) were 17 percent and 37 percent below their long-term averages, respectively. The estimate for scaup was a record low for the second consecutive year.
The abundance of northern pintails at 3.4 million was 18 percent below the 1955-2005 average, although this year's estimate was 32 percent greater than that of last year.
This preliminary report does not include estimates for the eastern survey area or information from surveys conducted by State or Provincial agencies.
The entire 2006 Trends in Waterfowl Breeding Populations report can be downloaded from the Service's Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/ and will be updated when the data are compiled.
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