Wetlands Rebound Signals Hope for Waterfowl Breeding Season

In mid and late June 2026, the spring waterfowl breeding population survey regional field reports were released from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The survey is conducted each spring by the USFWS and the Canadian Wildlife Service to estimate waterfowl populations and assess habitat conditions across major breeding areas. Pacific and Atlantic flyways are set for a favourable breeding season while wetter conditions in the north are expected to help drive decent waterfowl production in the Central and Mississippi flyways. 

On the Prairies, the continent’s most important region for producing ducks, the parklands experienced decent snowfall and replenishing rains that improved wetland conditions from previous years. In the southern Prairies, drought conditions generally persist, but spring rains have helped improve conditions from recent years in some areas. Improved wetland conditions due to abundant snowfall and spring rains across much of the Western Boreal Forest will provide stable production across much of this region. In the east, favourable precipitation and runoff continue to support healthy wetland habitats and this region is expected to maintain stable production seen in previous years. Favourable conditions extended into Atlantic Canada with an expectation of good productivity; however, western Labrador and eastern Quebec showed evidence of persistent drought in peatlands.

Overall, habitat conditions appear to be improving as water returns to the landscape, but sustained rain will be needed to help wetlands replenish across the Prairie region following multi-year drought, particularly in the Prairie grasslands. If conditions continue to be favourable, that will provide abundant brood habitat, which will likely support better production than in previous years; however, following many years of drought, we expect fewer birds in the breeding population, so breeding populations size in 2026 is unlikely to be much different than in previous years with the potential for additional declines given the 2026 breeding population is largely driven by breeding habitat conditions experienced in 2025, which were poor. However, persistent rain and improving wetland conditions are favourable to support a population boom in 2027 if 2026 production is strong. Tune in for our coverage of the Population Status Report released by the USFWS in late August or early September. You can find 2025’s waterfowl breeding population survey coverage here.

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s conservation programs that conserve wetland and associated upland habitats across these important breeding areas help waterfowl populations respond quickly when habitat conditions improve due to increased water on the landscape by providing critical nesting and brood-rearing habitat that help increase production and support healthy fall flights. 

Read the ongoing results of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey here.