flock of mallards
The annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat (BPOP) Survey has estimated a total continental duck population of nearly 41 million birds which is similar to last year’s estimate and 21 per cent above the long-term average.

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Annual survey reports North America’s ducks holding their own

Most counts done before heavy Prairie rains; DUC researchers expect more nesting in Canada

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Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., July 7, 2010 – The annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat (BPOP) Survey (PDF, 1.7MB) has estimated a total continental duck population of nearly 41 million birds which is similar to last year’s estimate and 21 per cent above the long-term average.

The BPOP Survey is an epic collaboration between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and has taken place every spring since 1955. Begun as a trial survey in 1947, the BPOP survey is now the largest, longest-running, and most effective and reliable wildlife survey conducted anywhere.

About a dozen fixed-wing aircraft, several helicopters, a number of ground vehicles including trucks and all-terrain vehicles, and dozens of biologists and pilots survey an area encompassing over two million square miles of waterfowl breeding habitat. Waterfowl of all species are counted on established sampling units called transects to provide an annual index to population size.

Over 80,000 kilometres (55,000 miles) of transects are flown every year across parts of the northern United States – Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Alaska, and in prairie Canada – Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as the Canadian boreal forest from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. This much flying is equivalent to counting ducks in a single line twice around the world every year. It is a massive undertaking that provides one important foundation for Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) conservation planning and program delivery.

According to Henry Murkin, Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) director of conservation programs, during spring migration many ducks will stop to nest where they find suitable wetland conditions on the breeding grounds. This year’s results reconfirm what has stated for years: Add water to good duck habitat and the ducks will respond.

“Based on this equation, over the long term, Canada’s prairies and western boreal forest have historically been where the largest portions of the breeding ducks settle,” says Murkin. “However over the past two years, an abundance of water in the Dakotas has provided favourable nesting habitat for ducks and they have responded accordingly.”

For many species water is not the only requisite. Dabbling ducks, in particular, require sufficient quality upland habitat around the wetlands for nesting as well. Murkin is optimistic- yet cautious- about the heavy June rains experienced in Canada and the influence of that precipitation on this years’ potential fall flight.

“When the survey was flown in early May, while there was water in some areas, many areas of Prairie Canada did not support good wetland conditions,” says Murkin. “We can only speculate on the positive impact of the large amount of water on the Prairie provinces right now for re-nesting or late nesting ducks. We know from our research that more water usually means the nesting season will be prolonged. More birds that lost earlier nests may lay another clutch of eggs. As well, more water means more cover for ducklings, thus increasing their chances of survival.”

While this year’s report is considered encouraging in the duck world, holding the status quo is not by any means call for celebration.

“The hard truth is the waterfowl habitat base, and in particular the wetlands, prairie grasses and surrounding uplands that ducks rely upon to nest, is dwindling on both sides of the border,” says Murkin. “For example, with the water we currently have in place on Canada’s prairies, we should confidently be able to say that next year will be a very positive year for waterfowl breeding in Prairie Canada. But with the rate of wetland destruction and drainage that is taking place, as well as the absence of proactive government wetland policies that conserve the natural areas that ducks need to nest, even with the influx of water success is not assured. That is why DUC and our partners remain focused on our conservation mission.”

For more information, contact:

Duncan Morrison, d_morrison@ducks.ca
National Marketing and Communications
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Tel: 204-467-3202

 
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