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Winter Habitat Conditions in Canada
- Conditions are variable in the British Columbia / Western Boreal Forest Region, where large flocks of wintering waterfowl can be found around the Fraser River Delta and along the east coast of Vancouver Island. Winter has been dry and warm in the Prairie Region.
- In Alberta, temperatures and snowpack accumulations have set record extremes in some areas.
- Although Saskatchewan is expecting little spring runoff, wetlands may still benefit from carry-over water from last summer.
- Carry-over water is also supporting wetlands in Manitoba, although some seasonal basins could be in jeopardy.
- It has also been a warm winter in the Eastern Region, where total precipitation has varied but Ontario and Atlantic Canada have received more rain than snow.
- Full report (PDF, 778 KB)
Even when habitat conditions are good, nature can always use a helping hand! Build a nestbox on your property for birds, bats and waterfowl.
Habitat conditions in Canada 
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) assesses the habitat conditions for waterfowl across the country. This is done to assess the situation that migrating waterfowl will face when they return to Canada in the spring.
Check out the following reports to learn more about the condition of wetlands and waterfowl habitat in your area:
Documents are in Adobe PDF format
2012
- February - winter (778 KB)
2011
- November - Fall (858 KB)
- September - Early fall (878 KB)
- August - Late Summer (954 KB)
- July - Early Summer (923 KB)
- May - Late Spring (966 KB)
- April - Spring (872 KB)
- March - Early Spring (797 KB)
- February - late winter (683 KB)
2010
- November, late fall (738 KB)
- September, early fall (1.9 MB)
- July, summer (940 KB)
- June, early summer (1.67 MB)
- May, late spring (2 MB)
- April, spring (2.32 MB)
- March, early spring (2.0 MB)
- February, late winter (1.42 MB)
- January, winter (1.3 MB)
2009
- November, late fall (1.3 MB)
- October, fall (710 KB)
- September, early fall (515 KB)
- July, summer (1.3MB)
- June, late spring (775KB)
- May, spring (1.8 MB)
- April, early spring (1 MB)
- March, late winter (141 KB)
- February, winter (134 KB)
2008
- November, late fall (80 KB)
- September, early fall (94 KB)
- July, summer (139 KB)
- June, early summer (143 KB)
- May, late spring (113 KB)
- April, spring (108 KB)
- March, early spring (104 KB)
- January, winter (76KB)
2007
- December, early winter (74 KB)
- November, late fall (75 KB)
- October, fall (77 KB)
- September, fall (128 KB)
- July, summer (216 KB)
- June, early summer (132 KB)
- May, spring (220 KB)
- April, spring (204 KB)
- March, early spring (274 KB)
- February, late winter (244 KB)
- January, winter (104KB)
2006
- December, early winter (108 KB)
- November, late fall (105KB)
- October, fall (108KB)
- September, fall (111 KB)
- August, late summer (114 KB)
- July, summer (167 KB)
- June, early summer (88 KB)
- May, spring (86 KB)
- April, spring (83 KB)
- March, spring (178 KB)
- February, winter (184 KB)
- January, winter (167 KB)
2005
- May, spring (162 KB)
- February winter (80 KB)
- January, winter (138 KB)
2004
- May, spring (148 KB)
2003
- December, winter (145 KB)
No matter what the condition of habitat near you, Canada’s wetlands continue to vanish at an alarming rate. As much as 70 per cent of our original wetlands have been lost in some areas of the country.
Wetlands benefit both people and wildlife by providing habitat, naturally filtering our water and much more. Canada can’t afford to lose anymore wetland habitat. You can help stop the loss. Learn more about how you can help support DUC’s wetland conservation efforts.
