Duck Numbers Remain Strong as Habitat Declines

[bioduckmc]

FWS survey indicates record duck numbers, average pond count

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released its preliminary report today on breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May and early June. Total populations were estimated at 48.6 million breeding ducks in the surveyed area. This estimate represents a 7 percent increase over last year's estimate of 45.6 million birds, and is 43 percent above the 1955-2010 long-term average. This year's estimate is a record high and is only the sixth time in the survey's history that the total duck population exceeded 40 million.

"Early indications were that the mild and dry conditions experienced across North America this past fall and winter would negatively impact spring pond conditions and allow increases in grassland conversion rates, ultimately impacting nesting efforts this season," said Ducks Unlimited Chief Scientist Dale Humburg. "Strong returning duck populations and late spring precipitation have brightened prospects for 2012 duck production. If nesting and brood-rearing conditions are favorable over the next few months, we could see another strong fall flight."

To hear more from Ducks Unlimited Chief Scientist Dale Humburg, to read rest of the releases on line and to see charts and graphs of each species CLICK THIS LINK: http://www.ducks.org/conservation/water ... homeBanner

The full FWS report can be read at: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/

[the doctor]

Doesn't this fly in the face of everything du and dw been preaching? Got to have habitat...got to save the habitat....send ur money to protect the habitat.

Guess most of that's marketing BS.

Glad the ducks are strong.

the doc

[the doctor]

Numbers are prolly higher this year cause they didn't get fluckin shot last year.

the doc

[teul2]

Numbers are prolly higher this year cause they didn't get fluckin shot last year.

^^^^^ This ^^^^^^

[Wildfowler]

Doesn't this fly in the face of everything du and dw been preaching? Got to have habitat...got to save the habitat....send ur money to protect the habitat.

Guess most of that's marketing BS.

Glad the ducks are strong.

the doc

Are you kidding me doc? Send your money in and quit your bellyaching!!!

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Doesn't this fly in the face of everything du and dw been preaching? Got to have habitat...got to save the habitat....send ur money to protect the habitat.

Guess most of that's marketing BS.

Glad the ducks are strong.

the doc

If the habitat loss in the PPR continues we will all be eating crow. But I digress...

[Wingman]

I'm on an email list with a bunch of biologists. Lately the discussion has been the disappearing PPR pothole habitat. Those guys are a lot smarter than me, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out no pothole nesting cover = no ducks.

It may take a little while for it to kick in but I believe it will kick in.

[Plainsman04]

I agree with Wingman.

I think the high numbers this year are as much because of carryover from last year than anything. If the weather gets right and more ducks are killed this year coupled with continued bad habitat conditions up north I think we'll see numbers start to drop off significantly. From all reputable accounts the PPR is looking pretty rough both in terms of water and ground cover. This is just another example of negative impacts from the stupid ethanol mandate and loss of native ground cover.

But hey, I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts...that is if we get any cold weather and I have time to hunt.

[the doctor]

Genius or no...the correlation today is declining habitat = record pond counts. Don't mind pitching in with my contributions to all those that help, but at the end of the day them ducks were fine without us before they'll be fine without again if that's the way it falls out. I suspect ducks will continue to break trends, go against stats and find a way to survive despite our help or lack there of.

I'm ready to start thinin em out.

the doc

[msoutdoors]

The ducks counted this year were produced in and survived due to the abundance of habitat last year. They've still got to nest and raise broods that survive to make the fall flight, all with less habitat.

[flyhi2]

So we know ducks will return to their native breeding grounds, how much do they mimic their mother as far as when they choose to nest? Do late hatched ducks tend to nest later? Is this why we are seeing a trend in higher numbers, because later nesting ducks migrate later down the flyway(as in February)? This would explain the rise in early counts, but not actual birds being killed. It goes back to nature taking care of itself.

[Wingman]

Genius or no...the correlation today is declining habitat = record pond counts. Don't mind pitching in with my contributions to all those that help, but at the end of the day them ducks were fine without us before they'll be fine without again if that's the way it falls out. I suspect ducks will continue to break trends, go against stats and find a way to survive despite our help or lack there of.

I'm ready to start thinin em out.

the doc

Only thing is, "before us" it was wide open prairie grassland with plenty of nesting cover and potholes. Now, since crp and native prairie are being turned into corn, they are losing nesting areas by millions of acres per year.

It'll eventually show.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Genius or no...the correlation today is declining habitat = record pond counts. Don't mind pitching in with my contributions to all those that help, but at the end of the day them ducks were fine without us before they'll be fine without again if that's the way it falls out. I suspect ducks will continue to break trends, go against stats and find a way to survive despite our help or lack there of.

I'm ready to start thinin em out.

the doc

Only thing is, "before us" it was wide open prairie grassland with plenty of nesting cover and potholes. Now, since crp and native prairie are being turned into corn, they are losing nesting areas by millions of acres per year.

It'll eventually show.

This ^^^

I tried to argue that the current trend in the diminishing ppr crp is going to decimate the ducks and my way of life in the farm bill thread. It was not well received, I think someone called me a democrat.

The Doctor, you can't look short term. If you honestly believe that less habitat will equal record ponds thereby producing record ducks then pass me some of that kool-aid. I think we are setup for a massive blow to waterfowling. If this year produces record numbers for us, which I will wish upon a star, then we'll be like the kid getting told no Disney Land this year after having it promised to him. As the next couple of years go by, the duck numbers will plummet. Of course this all comes within recent memory of the 2012-2013 mind-numbingly good season. What the hell happened? What do you mean 30 days? What do you mean 15 days? I thought we were having record years?

We are losing habitat at the duck factory, and the waterfowling community as a whole just does not seem like it wants to acknowledge that fact. If the habitat loss continues we will see, we will see...

[the doctor]

Alls I'm sayin is it aint as big a deal as they would have us believe. Don't mean it aint a big deal. They make their money making it a big deal.

Its all sensationalized marketing.

the doc.

[duramax]

Doesn't this fly in the face of everything du and dw been preaching? Got to have habitat...got to save the habitat....send ur money to protect the habitat.

Guess most of that's marketing BS.

Glad the ducks are strong.

the doc

You are joking right? There was great duck production last year with an abundance of water in the prairies, which will obviously carry over to mean more breeding pairs this year. But if there wasn't enough habitat this year, nest production will drop. You can bet the farm these numbers will be significantly less next year.