The Hunter

(JULY 2008)

Mallard and Blue-winged Teal Numbers Up 
 

Minnesota’ s breeding mallard and blue-winged teal numbers are higher
than last year and the total duck population estimate increased,
according to the annual May breeding waterfowl survey results released
by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The mallard breeding population was estimated at 298,000, which is 23
percent above last year and identical to the most recent 10-year
average. This year’s mallard population estimate is 34 percent above
the long-term average of 222,000 breeding mallards.

Blue-winged teal numbers increased 23 percent from last year to
152,000, but remained 32 percent below the long-term average.

“Blue-winged teal counts are always more difficult to interpret than
mallard counts because they tend to be more variable,” said Steve
Cordts, DNR waterfowl specialist.

“Because blue-winged teal nest later than mallards, their spring
migration through the state is also later. In many years, we end up
counting fair numbers of migrant teal that are going to nest north of
Minnesota. With good wetland conditions in the state this year and such
a late spring, I would have expected above or well above average
blue-winged teal counts, but that wasn’t the case.”

The combined populations of other ducks, such as wood ducks, gadwalls,
redheads and ring-necked ducks, increased to 290,000, about 65 percent
above the long-term average. This was the third-highest total recorded
for their combined populations. Much of the rise was due to record high
counts of ring-necked ducks, a common but very late-nesting species in
northern Minnesota. Ring-necked duck numbers were up by more than
100,000 ducks from last year.

“This large increase simply reflects the late spring weather
conditions and large numbers of migrant ring-necked ducks still present
in the state when we flew the survey,” Cordts said. “What was more
encouraging was to see small to moderate increases in the numbers of
breeding wood ducks and some other of the less common nesting
species.”

Spring Duck Index Similar to Last Year, Water Conditions Down

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual spring breeding duck survey showed an index of more than 3.4 million birds, unchanged from last year and 60 percent above the long-term average.

Gadwall (+47 percent) and northern shovelers (+20 percent) showed significant increases, while pintails (-36 percent), mallards (-29 percent), wigeon (-27 percent) and green-winged teal (-14 percent) were down. All diving ducks – canvasback, redhead, scaup and ruddy ducks – showed increases from last year.

The large number of ducks tallied during the survey is abnormal considering the extremely poor water conditions across the state, said Mike Johnson, game management section leader. “Part of this is because we have been carrying a duck population that is well above average since the mid 1990s,” he said.

This year, a number of these ducks continued to stay in North Dakota despite greatly reduced water conditions. With the dry conditions, many ducks were either waiting for improved water conditions before committing to nesting, or were still in the process of settling.

However, despite the relatively good breeding duck population index, Johnson is not expecting a good-year in terms of production. “The lone drake indices were well below average and the correction for hens on nests was the third lowest on record,” he added. “What this tells us is there were a lot of ducks sitting around and not actively breeding.”

The spring water index was down 70 percent from 2007 and 57 percent below the long-term average. The wetland index is the 10th lowest in survey history (61 years) and the lowest since 1992.

Johnson cautions that the water index is based on basins with water, and does not necessarily represent the amount of water contained in wetlands. “Conditions are actually worse than indicated,” Johnson said. “Wetlands with even a trace of water contribute as much to the index as those that are full. Our survey crews indicated that many wet basins held very little water at the time of the survey.”

The July brood survey will provide a better idea of duck production, and a better insight into what to expect this fall. “Observations to date indicate that production may be reduced in much of the state due to dry conditions and reduced wetland availability for brood production,” Johnson added. “However, fall weather always has a big impact on the success of the hunting season.”