The reports for this years waterfowl nesting success are starting to come in. It looks like it was a BANNER year for waterfowl nesting. A record was set for the total number of ducks. The highest number since surveys started in 1955. A total of 45.6 million. One article below. Amazing what water does for waterfowl nesting.
Water is the stuff of life here on the blue planet. But the abundance of some species is more demonstrably tied to Earth's signature resource than others.
Take waterfowl.
According to the 2011 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, North America has the second-highest pond count and highest number of ducks since the annual assessment started in 1955.
The survey is conducted each May by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service across more than 2 million square miles of waterfowl habitat in the north-central and northeastern United States; south-central, eastern and northern Canada; and Alaska.
The continental survey found a record 45.6 million ducks, up 11% from 2010 and 35% above the long-term average. The 2011 estimate features species highs for blue-winged teal, shovelers and redheads and substantial increases in mallard, pintail, canvasback and gadwall.
"Ducks are wetland critters, so when the water comes, they respond," said Kent Van Horn, wetland ecologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Because of precipitation this year, things look good in the waterfowl world."
Habitat conditions were generally good to excellent in the traditional survey area, with the exception of a region of boreal forest, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Notably, habitat conditions in the "duck factory" of the prairies generally improved relative to 2010, especially in North Dakota and Canada.
The total pond estimate (prairie Canada and north-central U.S. combined) was 8.1 million, 22% higher than the 2010 estimate and 62% above the long-term average.
In North Dakota, wetlands were 128% above the average and breeding duck numbers were 85% above the average. In Minnesota, wetland numbers hit a record high and the breeding duck count was 11% above the average.
Among species highlights in the traditional survey area, the estimated mallard abundance was 9.2 million, a 9% increase from 2010 and 22% above the average; blue-winged teal were estimated at a record 8.9 million, 41% above 2010 and 91% above the average; northern pintail were estimated at 4.4 million, up 26% and similar to the average; combined (lesser and greater) scaup estimate of 4.3 million was similar to 2010 and 15% below the average; canvasback were estimated at 700,000, similar to 2010 and 21% above the average.
The record duck numbers come with some caveats, however. The Conservation Reserve Program, a federal set-aside program instrumental for increasing U.S. habitat for ducks and upland birds, has suffered a drop in funding and acres.
"Mother Nature has dealt the pothole region a winning hand with all this water," said John Devney, senior vice president of Delta Waterfowl.
Devney said such excellent breeding conditions set off a "chain reaction of positive outcomes:" an abundance of small wetlands attracts more ducks to prime breeding areas, and those ducks are more inclined to re-nest and brood survival increases. Re-nesting is important because it offsets predation.
"But the U.S. prairies won't stay wet forever, and if we continue to lose CRP, native grasslands and wetlands, duck numbers could go down even faster and more dramatically than they've come up in recent years," Devney said.
Species of concern are American wigeon, which fell 14% to 2.1 million and is 20% below average, and green-winged teal, off 17% to 2.9 million but still above the average.
The survey results were well-received by waterfowlers, who support habitat work and management with their license and stamp dollars.
The hunting experience each season, though, is heavily dependent on fall weather, access to hunting spots and scouting.
"We can have record numbers of ducks, but if they aren't on your hunting spot, you'll probably doubt the survey," Van Horn said. "There's no substitute for scouting."
2011 waterfowl survey finds record 45.6 million ducks
Water is the stuff of life here on the blue planet. But the abundance of some species is more demonstrably tied to Earth's signature resource than others.
Take waterfowl.
According to the 2011 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, North America has the second-highest pond count and highest number of ducks since the annual assessment started in 1955.
The survey is conducted each May by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service across more than 2 million square miles of waterfowl habitat in the north-central and northeastern United States; south-central, eastern and northern Canada; and Alaska.
The continental survey found a record 45.6 million ducks, up 11% from 2010 and 35% above the long-term average. The 2011 estimate features species highs for blue-winged teal, shovelers and redheads and substantial increases in mallard, pintail, canvasback and gadwall.
"Ducks are wetland critters, so when the water comes, they respond," said Kent Van Horn, wetland ecologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Because of precipitation this year, things look good in the waterfowl world."
Habitat conditions were generally good to excellent in the traditional survey area, with the exception of a region of boreal forest, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Notably, habitat conditions in the "duck factory" of the prairies generally improved relative to 2010, especially in North Dakota and Canada.
The total pond estimate (prairie Canada and north-central U.S. combined) was 8.1 million, 22% higher than the 2010 estimate and 62% above the long-term average.
In North Dakota, wetlands were 128% above the average and breeding duck numbers were 85% above the average. In Minnesota, wetland numbers hit a record high and the breeding duck count was 11% above the average.
Among species highlights in the traditional survey area, the estimated mallard abundance was 9.2 million, a 9% increase from 2010 and 22% above the average; blue-winged teal were estimated at a record 8.9 million, 41% above 2010 and 91% above the average; northern pintail were estimated at 4.4 million, up 26% and similar to the average; combined (lesser and greater) scaup estimate of 4.3 million was similar to 2010 and 15% below the average; canvasback were estimated at 700,000, similar to 2010 and 21% above the average.
The record duck numbers come with some caveats, however. The Conservation Reserve Program, a federal set-aside program instrumental for increasing U.S. habitat for ducks and upland birds, has suffered a drop in funding and acres.
"Mother Nature has dealt the pothole region a winning hand with all this water," said John Devney, senior vice president of Delta Waterfowl.
Devney said such excellent breeding conditions set off a "chain reaction of positive outcomes:" an abundance of small wetlands attracts more ducks to prime breeding areas, and those ducks are more inclined to re-nest and brood survival increases. Re-nesting is important because it offsets predation.
"But the U.S. prairies won't stay wet forever, and if we continue to lose CRP, native grasslands and wetlands, duck numbers could go down even faster and more dramatically than they've come up in recent years," Devney said.
Species of concern are American wigeon, which fell 14% to 2.1 million and is 20% below average, and green-winged teal, off 17% to 2.9 million but still above the average.
The survey results were well-received by waterfowlers, who support habitat work and management with their license and stamp dollars.
The hunting experience each season, though, is heavily dependent on fall weather, access to hunting spots and scouting.
"We can have record numbers of ducks, but if they aren't on your hunting spot, you'll probably doubt the survey," Van Horn said. "There's no substitute for scouting."