BIRDS & HUNTER STATS

Waterfowl Populations 2007

USFWS and CWS 2007 Breeding Waterfowl Trend Report

Every year the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) perform a survey of the breeding conditions and waterfowl populations throughout most of Canada, Montana, North and South Dakota, and parts of Alaska.  This is the information that is later used to help determine the waterfowl season and bag limit regulations for that year.  This year’s results are in!

Overall, the conditions are very similar or slightly better than last year.  There were 15% more ponds than last year which means more locations for ducks to raise their broods.  Plenty of precipitation has produced good conditions throughout most of Canada.  The U.S. praries (Montana, North and South Dakota) had highly variable conditions and the conditions in Alaska continue to be good.

As far as duck numbers go there were 14% more total ducks than last year and 24% more than the 50 year long term average (LTA).  This is a composite of all species of ducks that are surveyed.  Northern Pintail were down 2% from last year and are 19% down from the LTA.  Mallards were up 10% from last year and remain 7% up from the LTR. 
To read the full report with tables and color graphs on our Bird and Hunter Stats page click here>>

California Mallard Breeding Population

Each spring CWA and DFG combine forces to conduct the annual Breeding Population Survey (BPOP) in California to assess the current year’s local production efforts.  The survey is conducted via airplane where trained observers count only breeding ducks.  This means that the numbers reported are strictly ducks that are actively breeding and working to raise more ducks for this year’s fall flight.  This year’s observers counted 388,324 breeding mallards.  This is 2.78% lower than last years count of 399,437 breeding mallards.

To see the graph of BPOP estimates from 1992-2007 click here>>

Tracking Ducks		Pintail Populations Steady in California
Each year CWA biologists band ducks throughout California. To see a map of band recovery locations click here>>		Pintails have been studied very thoroughly in the past and continue to be today. These efforts are intended to shed light on the reason for the population decline since the mid 1970s and to hopefully give managers some insight into turning the trend around. Below are two graphs that show pintail population and survival rates compared to harvest over time. Harvest vs. Pintail Population click here>> Harvest vs. Pintail Survival Rates click here>>

New Waterfowl Book from One of the Giants

Dennis Raveling developed some of the most important scientific management techniques for waterfowl. To order his unpublished manuscript, click here>>

Was Johnny Lynch right?

This reflective piece by renowned biologist Dave Ankney, was published in the 7th International Waterfowl Symosium in 1996. For an interesting and humorous look at the early development of Adaptive Harvest Management, click here>>

CWA actively supports your waterfowl hunting heritage!