Ducks Unlimited has released the latest figures for the 2011 breeding season for ducks in North America.
The total population of all duck species was estimated at 45.6 million breeding birds, an 11 percent increase over last year. This is only the fifth time in the survey’s history that the total duck population exceeded 40 million.
Having just suffered through a spring that was really only fit for ducks and frogs, I was nonetheless heartened by the enormous amount of water in the prairies. Wetlands look luscious, and the little prairie potholes are all just a brimming.
“These are nearly unprecedented wetland habitat conditions and breeding duck population levels for 2011—the best in several years for some areas,” said Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) Senior Conservation Advisor Mike Anderson. “Full wetlands where good upland cover exists will likely support a strong breeding effort.”
Read the full article, and a llist of species numbers, on the Ducks Unlimited website.
I feel much better now about sacrificing a decent spring for the wet, soggy months we went through.