Preliminary
Outlook Mixed for Duck Production
By Don Kraege and Ron Friesz
Preliminary
reports from U.S. Fish and Wildlife survey crews in Canada
indicate a wide range of habitat conditions for continental
duck breeding populations in 2004. In general, it appears
that 2004 is a much drier spring in the southern Canadian
prairies than last year, and some survey crews reported the
driest conditions in a decade. A record late spring in northern
Canada significantly delayed waterfowl movements to traditional
breeding areas, and persisted into late May. However, significant
amounts of rain and snow fell in southern Manitoba and parts
of the Dakotas in late May, and renesting / late nesting hens
should benefit from the added water.
Washington’s
major duck production areas had spring conditions earlier
than normal, and drought in some areas will lead to a reduced
number of local birds available for hunters early in the 2004-05
season. Total mallards in the eastern Washington breeding
population were estimated at 39,958, slightly above last year’s
count (<1%), but remain 27% below the long-term average.
Total duck numbers were estimated at 114,883, 10% below 2003’s
count and 28% below the long-term average. Diver species were
the most noticeable in reduced numbers, particularly lesser
scaup and ring-necked ducks. Total duck numbers were slightly
up (4%) in the wetland habitats within the irrigation projects
of the Yakima Valley and the Columbia Basin. The production
loss occurred in the dry land areas that depend on snowmelt
for recharge of pothole habitats. Pothole numbers were down
35% from 2003 and 36% from the long-term average. Pothole
numbers were the lowest since 1994.
Results
from continental surveys are used to adjust Pacific Flyway
duck season length and bag limits each year in July, and local
breeding population information figures into state season
selections (within flyway frameworks) at the Fish and Wildlife
Commission meeting in August each year. |
