CONSERVATION CORNER
Waterfowl Population Take Dive
by James L. Cummins

For the past 4 years, waterfowl populations have been declining. What the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found was a slight decline in the breeding population of ducks across the traditional survey area that includes Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alaska, Yukon Territory, the Dakotas and western Montana.

Not only did the 2005 estimate (31.7 million) of ducks indicate a slight decrease over 2004 (32.2 million), but the estimate was approximately 30 percent higher than the 1955-04 average. The annual breeding duck survey covers 1.3 million square miles across the middle-central United States, western and northern Canada and Alaska.

Breeding mallard populations declined 9 percent over 2004. Gadwalls were down 16 percent and pintails were up 17 percent. Overall, there was a 1.5 percent decline in total ducks.

Although waterfowl populations were slightly down, intensive conservation efforts fueled by a tremendous partnership among government, conservation and private landowners have yielded a fairly stable population.

The good news is that water conditions have improved across portions of the United States and Canada. Parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada were in excellent shape with a 56 percent increase in ponds over 2004. This is excellent for Mississippi since we receive most of our ducks from this area.

The pond count for the United States is down 17 percent, but we have had good rainfall since then. This will be a benefit for late nesting birds and re-nesting birds.

In the wintering areas, the Mississippi Partners Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetland Reserve Program and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program continue to contribute to the wintering waterfowl population. Wildlife Mississippi is working extensively with landowners to develop winter waterfowl habitat throughout the state.

One of the objectives of Wildlife Mississippi is to maximize hunting opportunities in a manner that is consistent with the status of waterfowl populations. When we have good habitat conditions and a high waterfowl population like we are experiencing at this time, we will have quality hunting opportunities.

Despite increases in the breeding population and good water conditions, waterfowl still have tough times ahead. They need large areas of nesting cover and an abundance of temporary and seasonal wetlands.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.