The Duck Breeding Numbers Are Out For 2009

Posted on CWA

USFWS Trend in Duck Breeding Populations – 2009

Every year biologists spend hours and hours flying over waterfowl breeding habitat in the US and in Canada. They count and track the total number of ponds and the total number of breeding ducks they see. This information will be used, inconjunction with the Adaptive Harvest Model, to determine the upcoming hunting regulations.

The USFWS released the 2009 breeding waterfowl data on July 1. Things are looking up this year! Below is a summary of this year's findings:

Read full report at http://www.calwaterfowl.org/web2/hunting/birdsandhunterstats/birdsandhuntstatspdfs/WaterfowlStatus2009.pdf

Species	Change from 2008	Change from Long-Term Average
Mallard	+10%	+13%
Northern Pintail	+23%	-20%
Gadwall	+12%	+73%
American Wigeon	-1%	-5%
Green-Winged Teal	+16%	+79%
Northen Shoveler	+25%	+92%
Canvasback	+35%	+16%
Redhead	-1%	+62%
Scaup	+12%	-18%
TOTAL DUCKS	+13%	+25%
May Ponds	+45%	+31%