2024 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey

Population estimates of your favourite species  

→ View the full 2024 Waterfowl Population Status report   from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

→ View the survey field reports from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Species spotlights: blue-winged teal, mallard and American wigeon 

The continued decline of blue-winged teal was noted by waterfowl scientists like Dyson, who says “the decline can likely be closely tied to the ongoing drought situation across their core breeding area in the Prairies.” In more positive news, Dyson adds, “it was nice to see mallard populations tick up after a few years of declines, as well as substantial jump in American wigeon numbers. These increases are likely tied to boosts in boreal forest breeding populations of these species and particularly in Alaska where they saw bumps in 2024.” 

Eastern Survey Area Data

Regarding the waterfowl and habitat conditions data from the eastern survey regions, Dyson says: “With the exception of mallard, all primary species surveyed in the Eastern Survey Area increased since 2023. Notably, American black duck are up 17 per cent and 23 per cent above the long-term average. It is encouraging to see continued population stability, and growth, for this species following years of declines. Conditions in the Eastern Survey Area (ESA) are generally good, which should bode well for continued positive trends for ducks in this region.”

What is the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey and how is it compiled? 

The Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey was started in 1955 and is the largest and longest running wildlife survey in the world. Its results have guided waterfowl harvest and habitat management continentally by shedding light on the large-scale dynamics of migratory species. 

The survey, also referred to as the Breeding Population Survey (BPOP) or the May Survey, is run jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) with support provided by other groups like DUC. From mid- to late May, the USFWS teams up with the CWS as well as state and provincial agencies to conduct the survey. Using airplanes, helicopters and keen-eyed ground crews, the organizations examine breeding habitat and populations over more than 3.6 million square kilometres of Canada and the northern United States. DUC biologists are part of the crews that count ducks from the ground, which provide important verification and corrections for counts done by air.  

Healthy, abundant habitat is key factor in duck populations 

Waterfowl’s migratory nature demands that quality habitats exist at every point throughout their journeys. Canadian landscapes, particularly the key breeding grounds of the Prairies and the boreal forest, play a critical role in maintaining these strong populations. 

Thousands of shallow wetlands are scattered across the Canadian Prairies and shallow wetlands represent some of the most productive waterfowl habitat in North America. The boreal forest is a vast area covered with rivers, lakes and wetlands that attract millions of ducks, geese and swans every year to breed. 

While buoyed by the mostly positive news coming out of this year’s results, Dyson’s optimism is also tempered with caution. 

“It’s always nice to see an overall population increase; however, despite some late spring rains and precipitation over the summer throughout the parklands, many of those rains were too late to influence habitat conditions for early nesting species like mallard, which likely led to some overflight into the boreal forest,” notes Dyson.  

“For species that did nest in the Prairies, there is some reason for optimism for brood production in the parklands given some relief from drought conditions, which we might expect to see reflected in the harvest data or next year’s breeding population survey; however much of the region remains in drought. In addition, increasing drought conditions and associated wildfires are occurring across the boreal forest, which is becoming an increasingly concerning trend to the stability of this important breeding area.” 

Vigilant conservation is a must to keep waterfowl populations thriving 

For more than 85 years, DUC has been a leader in science-based conservation, delivering wetland conservation across the country in response to various ecological challenges affecting waterfowl.  

DUC continues to monitor how climate change and habitat loss impact waterfowl. While populations of many ducks and geese are doing well compared to other migratory birds, climate change, drought conditions, changes in land use, and continued wetland drainage and grassland habitat loss compromise both breeding and survival rates. 

“We know that environmental and social factors can change quickly, which can alter the outlook for waterfowl,” says Dyson. “Ongoing investments in habitat conservation, scientific research, land-use planning, and educational programming are needed to address emerging challenges to ducks and their habitat.”