While American energy independence inches toward attainability, it appears we remain forever destined to depend upon foreign ducks.
Canadian ducks, specifically, and although American reliance upon Canuck quackers is nothing new, the annual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report on Trends in Duck Breeding Populations released late last week reveals that American duck hunters will be counting on our neighbors to the north even more than usual this year.
To all but the most xenophobic, the report offers some undeniably good news: Overall duck numbers in the survey area are the highest ever recorded. Total populations were estimated at 49.5 million breeding ducks in the traditional survey area spanning the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern U.S. and Canada, which is about 50 percent above the long-term average.
The number tops last year’s record estimate of 49.2 million birds. And, realistically, the robust 2014 population is the pri- mary reason for the record survey counts conducted jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service in spring of 2015. Conditions in the traditional breeding grounds of both the U.S. and Canada were drier this spring than recent years, but especially in the U.S.
“We are fortunate to see continued high overall duck populations in North America’s breeding areas this year,” Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall said of the report. “Though conditions were dry in some important habitats, we had large numbers of birds returning this spring and good conditions in the boreal forest and other areas of Canada. It looks like some typical prairie nesters skipped over the U.S. prairies and took advantage of good conditions farther north.”
Returning birds found a lower pond count in key areas of the breeding grounds than in 2014, prompting many birds to overfly the U.S. prairie in search of adequate wetlands. Total pond counts for the U.S. and Canada combined were 6.3 million, which is 12 percent below the 2014 estimate of 7.2 million, but still 21 percent above the long-term average.
“(High) population estimates are not due to great conditions this year, but high because of several consecutive years of great production,” said Dr. Frank Rohwer, president of North Dakota-based Delta Waterfowl. “When birds pass over the Prairie Pothole Region and settle farther north, they typically do not have as high of reproductive success.”
In particular, mallards and pintails tend to continue north when seasonal wetlands are insufficient on the prairies, Rohwer said. But the outcome of the extended migration is a study in contrast between the two species.
Mallards — by far the most popular species among duck hunters — were recorded at their highest number in the history of the survey in 2015, estimated at 11.64 million. The figure marks an increase of 7 percent over 2014 and 51 percent above the long-term average.
At the other end of the spectrum, northern pintail estimates declined for their fourth straight year and continue to be a source of concern. The estimate of 3.04 million pintails is 24 percent below the long-term average.
Northern shovelers showed the greatest decline, falling 17 percent to 4.39 million yet remaining 75 percent above the long-term average.
Other ducks fared well to exceptionally well. Most notably, green-winged teal populations grew by 19 percent from last year to a record 4.08 million, a full 98 percent above the long-term average. Blue-winged teal measured at 8.55 million, which is the third-highest count ever for the species and 73 percent above the long-term average.
The gadwall estimate at 3.83 million is the second highest in survey history and 100 percent above the long-term average. Population estimates for wigeon (3.04 million), canvasbacks (757,000), redheads (1.2 million) and scaup (4.4 million) are similar to 2014. All but scaup saw significant increases to the long-term average.
Ducks that did settle in south of the Canadian border were likely able to capitalize on late spring rains and improved wetland conditions, experts say, which could still increase duck production throughout the U.S. prairies.
“The rains we got in May and June across the eastern Dakotas will probably benefit late nesters like blue-winged teal, gadwalls and scaup,” Rohwer said. “It’s also likely to spur re-nesting attempts and aid in duckling survival.”
Scott Willoughby: swilloughby@denverpost.com or
