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Waterfowl

Wetlands provide important breeding and migrating areas for waterfowl.

Impact Area

The natural world is complex. It works best when it contains a diverse system of fish and wildlife. Waterfowl contribute to this system in many ways — as inhabitants, predators and prey.

Waterfowl at your service: how ducks and geese help our environment Get the story

Waterfowl at your service: how ducks and geese help our environment

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More than 80 years ago, few people thought much of declining waterfowl populations. But hunters noticed. They understood the link between lost habitat and disappearing wildlife. The sportsmen of the 1930s knew that in order to save waterfowl, they needed to restore and protect wetlands. They formed Ducks Unlimited Canada for that purpose, which continues to guide our work today.

The waterfowl that nest in Canada are also important to people beyond our borders. When they migrate each fall, they spread out across North America. Many birds that populate the United States and Mexico get their start in Canada.

Waterfowl rely on finding the resources they need when they migrate each spring. But it’s never a guarantee. Many species rely on two of the most threatened habitats in Canada during the breeding seasons: wetlands and grasslands. If their habitat continues to disappear, the birds will disappear too.

By conserving wetlands, waterfowl and all wildlife will benefit.

Wetland Waterfowl and Wildlife Identification

Wetland Waterfowl and Wildlife Identification

Waterfowl identification may seem overwhelming at first. But, if you keep an eye out for some key clues, you’ll be picking out different wetland species in no time.

Watch inside the nest

Watch inside the nest

Get the real birds-eye view with close-up webcam footage from inside nest boxes of some of nesting birds and their broods

Popular Waterfowl and wildlife species questions

Popular Waterfowl and wildlife species questions

Some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about waterfowl and wildlife

The fight to conserve our wetlands
National, Water, Waterfowl, Wetlands, Wildlife, world wetlands day

The fight to conserve our wetlands

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Swans
Swans © DUC

Taking Action

Canadians need to hang on to the habitat we still have. Ducks Unlimited Canada is committed to this conservation cause.

Seasonal ponds are life support for wildlife Get the story

Seasonal ponds are life support for wildlife

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Many waterfowl take part in the spring migration. These geese, swans and ducks follow their instincts like a compass, guiding them back to their northern breeding grounds. There, if all goes well, they will raise broods, feed and prepare to retrace their migration path in the fall. That’s why we’re working on projects that:
  • Save habitat by working with everyday Canadians who understand the dire need for conservation. To date, we have secured more than 6.5 million acres of habitat and positively influenced another 201.8 million acres.
  • Restore habitat including wetlands and grasslands. These can be difficult to restore once they are destroyed. Our engineers and biologists are experts at bringing these habitats back to life. Historic wildlife havens like Delta Marsh in Manitoba, nearly destroyed by invasive carp, show promise for recovery thanks to our work.
  • Work with partners on large-scale conservation projects. We helped develop the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, which has secured nearly 23.1 million acres of wetlands and grasslands in Canada.
  • Includes research in biology and ecology are at the core of conservation. Ducks Unlimited Canada gathers this information through our science arm, the Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research.

Stories about waterfowl

Read more stories about waterfowl
What do wild ducks eat?
Biodiversity, Waterfowl, Wildlife

What do wild ducks eat?

Different ducks have different diets—and even eat different foods according to their physical needs and the time of year.

How do ducks’ feet stay warm in winter?
Science, Waterfowl, Wildlife

How do ducks’ feet stay warm in winter?

Web-footed and fancy free—how ducks navigate frigid ice and snow underfoot

Canadian scientists showcasing the latest in waterfowl research at North American Duck Symposium 
IWWR, Science, Water, Waterfowl, Wetlands

Canadian scientists showcasing the latest in waterfowl research at North American Duck Symposium 

Eleven Ducks Unlimited Canada researchers will attend the international conference, presenting on recent research, and learning from a global network of waterfowl scientists.

Harlequin ducks
Conservator, Waterfowl

Harlequin ducks

Harlequin ducks are stockier than many duck species — likely due to the rugged environment they evolved in. Duck autopsies show that harlequins sustain more bone fractures than other ducks throughout their lives, indicating that those waves and rocks are as rough as they look.

2023 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey
Raising the roof
Conservator, Grassroots, Landowners, Volunteers, Waterfowl

Raising the roof

Nest box builders pick up their hammers for many reasons but they all have one thing in common: a personal connection to wildlife and a desire to give back.

Five small ducks you can see in winter
Waterfowl

Five small ducks you can see in winter

Not all ducks leave the country when cold weather comes to Canada’s forests, rivers, lakes and wetlands

Conservation agreement satisfies Manitoba farm family in many ways
Grasslands, Landowners, Prairie Pothole Region, Water, Waterfowl, Wetlands, Wildlife

Conservation agreement satisfies Manitoba farm family in many ways

Financial compensation and conserving natural areas compelled Dale and Linda O'Greysik to sign a conservation agreement with DUC.

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