By Bruce Ross, Executive Director [email]bross@wisducks.org[/email]

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s September, 2023 Newsletter edition.

While spring breeding conditions in Wisconsin were similar to or better than last year, the driving force for reduced duck populations across the nation seems to be drought conditions in the prairie pothole region of Canada.  Wisconsin DNR estimated an overall Wisconsin duck population of more than 545,000, which was 3.5% below last year but 23% higher than the long term average.

Here’s a quick look at the birds most harvested by Wisconsin waterfowlers derived from the DNR report:

Species	Breeding birds in Wisconsin	Change from last year	Change from Long term average
TOTAL	545,000	-1.5%	23%
Mallards	175,895	-4%	similar
Wood ducks	102,000	-29%	+20%
Blue winged teal	96,000	+6%	-8.5%
Other ducks	153,000	-1.8%	+134%
Canada Geese	169,000	-1%	+58%

Don’t see the species you are interested in–or want to read the entire report?  Here’s the DNR report on breeding pairs in Wisconsin and click here for the continental perspective from the USFWS.

Any relative decline emphasizes the importance of good breeding habitat, especially in breeding states like Wisconsin.  Indeed, the DNR says that most (up to 70%) of the ducks shot by Wisconsin hunters are born in Wisconsin.  In both its public and private lands wetland restoration programs, WWA focuses on breeding habitat necessary to help sustain healthy Wisconsin brood rearing.

Source:

*U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2023. Waterfowl population status, 2023. U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. USA

**WDNR 2023.  Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey For Wisconsin, 1973—2023.  Amy Shipley, Jason Winiarski, and Taylor Finger, Office of Applied Science, Bureau of Wildlife Management Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  June 2023