Duck!

By CONNIE MERTZ

Environmental factors determine the fall duck populations. Unfortunately, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reporting a decrease in duck numbers for nine of the 10 most common ducks. Overall, the figures show a 14 percent decrease in breeding duck populations.

Some declining duck numbers for the past several years have been of major concern both to Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Fish/Wildlife Service (FWS). There is surprising data, however. While the pintail populations have shown decreases in recent years, for 2001 they have increased from 2.9 million to 3.2 million. However, the pintail numbers still remain 41 percent below the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), which has set levels for waterfowl populations congruent with the 1970’s.

Mallards, the most plentiful of all waterfowl, are showing a 17-percent decrease this year. Scaup populations continue to show a steady decline over the last 10 years. There is still no sign of recovering from the low numbers experienced in the early 1990’s. They continue to remain at a 41-percent low of the NAWMP’s goals. Their decline remains a high priority for DU. The major decline in breeding ducks are with the blue and green-winged teals. Both show a significant decrease. The redhead and canvasbacks aren’t far behind.

“If we want to sustain those [waterfowl] populations, we must work effectively in all areas of the breeding grounds across North America, so that wherever it’s wet the birds will have a chance to thrive,” says Don Young, Executive Vice President of DU.