THE latest numbers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirm what most duck hunters and waterfowl experts suspected: Breeding duck numbers are down this year.
In its annual report on breeding ducks and spring habitat conditions, the FWS estimates that total breeding duck populations fell 14 percent from a year ago, to 31.2 million birds. Experts are pointing to dry conditions and a late spring in key breeding areas as the cause of this decline.
“Overall, the numbers in this report are right in line with what our own field staff have observed,” says Ducks Unlimited’s chief biologist, Bruce Batt. “In general, habitat conditions are very poor, most species populations are down, and production is expected to be quite low in the west and the north.”
Despite reduced populations, Batt points out that “experienced hunters have learned that the most compelling factor determining hunting success is the weather, as was so dramatically demonstrated last year.”
“Most will hope that the cold, wet spring will be mirrored this fall and winter to bring the birds back into traditional wintering locations where the annual hunting traditions can be renewed with family and friends,” said Dr. Scott Yaich, DU’s director of conservation planning. “It’s likely that the seasons will be more conservative than last year, which most hunters anticipate when populations decline.”
Spring conditions were extremely dry across the north-central United States and south-central Canada, where the majority of North America’s waterfowl breed. Total May pond counts were down 41 percent from last year and are 45 percent below the long-term average. That is the second-lowest total pond count since 1974, and the lowest number ever recorded in Canada.
The water problem was exacerbated when winter-like conditions hit the prairies in May. Experts say the freezing temperatures halted migration for two weeks.
“Cold weather and snow storms froze the limited run-off water that may have otherwise been available. And in the prairies and parklands, some nests were likely lost to the weather, but most birds were simply prevented from breeding,” Batt said. “This, of course, would have the greatest effect on early-nesting species such as mallards, and pintail.”
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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says it is investigating the cause of the deaths of birds along the shores of Lake Ontario and advised the public to take precautions in handling birds and wildlife from these areas until the investigation is completed.
“In the past month, approximately a dozen dead gulls were found along the shoreline of Lake Ontario and samples collected to determine the cause of death revealed the presence of Type E Botulism in some of these birds,” DEC commissioner Erin M. Crotty said. “In light of this, we are advising people who might handle birds, fish and wildlife in the vicinity of Lake Ontario to follow some simple steps to avoid potential exposure.”
Type E Botulism has not been found in any fish from Lake Ontario. A fish kill that occurred in the lake in late June appears to have resulted from the effects of bacteria on weakened fish. DEC is continuing to gather sick and dead birds and fish to check for botulism or other diseases.
Hunters and anglers are advised not to harvest waterfowl or fish that are sick or acting abnormally. Cooking may not destroy the botulism toxin.
