07-15-2008, 11:10 AM
LITTLE ROCK - Duck populations in the middle portion of North America are down a little from last year, but it's too soon to tell the effect on this season's waterfowl hunting.
<br>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its preliminary report on mid-continent breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May and early June. The hunting season framework will wait until after flyway council meetings later this month and in early August. Then the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will set the 2008-2009 seasons and bag limits at its Aug. 21 meeting in Little Rock.<br>
<br>The Fish and Wildlife Service said total duck populations this spring were estimated at 37.3 million breeding ducks on the surveyed area. This estimate represents a 9 percent decline over last year's estimate of 41.2 million birds, but remains 11 percent above the 1955-2007 long-term average.<br>
<br>The slight decline in numbers doesn't concern waterfowl experts nearly as much as the sharp drop in ponds in the breeding grounds of the upper Midwest and the Canada prairie provinces.<br>
<br>A critical element in duck breeding success is the amount of water present in portions of prairie and parkland Canada and north central United States. Pond counts for the United States and Canada combined showed 4.4 million ponds, a 37 percent drop from last year's estimate, and 10 percent below the long-term average.Drought in many parts of the traditional survey areaincluding the prairie pothole regioncontrasted sharply with record amounts of snow and rainfall in the eastern survey area.<br>
<br>The FWS spring surveys provide the scientific basis for many management programs across the continent including the setting of hunting regulations. The four flyway councils and the FWS Regulations Committee will meet in July and early August to recommend and adopt the season structure and bag limits for 2008-09. Individual states will make their selections following these meetings. Hunters should check the Arkansas rules for final dates and other regulations after the Aug. 21 AGFC meeting.<br>
<br>The mallard population was 7 percent below last year. An estimated 7.7 million mallards were on traditionally surveyed areas this spring, compared to last year's estimate of 8.3 million birds. However, mallard numbers were similar to the long-term average.<br>
<br>The most positive news coming out of this year's survey continues to be for redheads, green-winged teal and scaup. For the second straight year, redheads remained above 1 million birds (66 percent above the long-term average). Green-winged teal populations remained similar to the level in 2007 and were 57 percent above the long-term average.<br>
<br>Scaup numbers appear to have stabilized at similar levels for the last 8 years remaining at 3.7 million in 2008, similar to the 3.5 million surveyed in 2007. Breeding scaup numbers remain 27 percent below their long-term average, however.<br>
<br>As expected, some breeding populations declined as habitat conditions deteriorated from 2007 to 2008. Although 6 of the 10 commonly surveyed species showed no significant change, 4 species declined appreciably. Notable declines were in numbers of breeding canvasbacks (down 44 percent from 2007), northern pintails (down 22 percent), gadwalls (down 19 percent), and northern shovelers (down 23 percent). Canvasbacks were at an estimated 489,000 breeding birds in the survey area 14 percent below their long-term average. Pintail numbers declined to 2.6 million, 36 percent below the long-term average. Despite declines from 2007 in numbers of gadwalls and shovelers, populations remain well above long-term averages (both plus-56 percent).<br>
<br>American wigeon numbers, at 2.5 million, remained similar to 2007 levels and the long-term. Although blue-winged teal populations did not change significantly from 2007, they remain well above the long-term average (plus-45 percent).<br>
<br>Since 1990, surveys have been conducted in eastern North America. In contrast to the western surveys most of the eastern survey area experienced record or near-record winter snowfall and spring precipitation accompanied by average to below-average temperatures. Population estimates for the 10 most abundant species surveyed were similar to last year and to the 1990-2007 averages.<br>
<br>Wet and dry cycles, where water levels fluctuate over time, are vital components of maintaining wetland productivity. This is true for all wetlands, but is especially important for the prairie potholes of the northern plains. Although the short-term effect may be fewer breeding ducks, wetlands are rejuvenated during severe droughts.<br>
<br>But droughts are temporary. If grassland and wetland habitats can be kept intact, when the water returns, prairie wetlands will again teem with breeding waterfowl and other wildlife. Equally important to note is that more stable wetland areas such as the boreal forest provide critical nesting habitat, particularly during drought years on the prairies. In 2008, these areas were rated as fair to excellent although in most places spring was delayed by one to two weeks.<br>
<br>As painful as the current drought is, waterfowl and prairie habitats are facing even greater long-term threats. Grassland habitat is under siege on many fronts and is being lost at alarming rates. The U.S. Prairie Pothole Region lost more than 800,000 Conservation Reserve Program acres last year, and more than 3.3 million acres of native prairie are projected to be lost during the next five years, according to F&WS and Ducks Unlimited.
<br>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its preliminary report on mid-continent breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May and early June. The hunting season framework will wait until after flyway council meetings later this month and in early August. Then the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will set the 2008-2009 seasons and bag limits at its Aug. 21 meeting in Little Rock.<br>
<br>The Fish and Wildlife Service said total duck populations this spring were estimated at 37.3 million breeding ducks on the surveyed area. This estimate represents a 9 percent decline over last year's estimate of 41.2 million birds, but remains 11 percent above the 1955-2007 long-term average.<br>
<br>The slight decline in numbers doesn't concern waterfowl experts nearly as much as the sharp drop in ponds in the breeding grounds of the upper Midwest and the Canada prairie provinces.<br>
<br>A critical element in duck breeding success is the amount of water present in portions of prairie and parkland Canada and north central United States. Pond counts for the United States and Canada combined showed 4.4 million ponds, a 37 percent drop from last year's estimate, and 10 percent below the long-term average.Drought in many parts of the traditional survey areaincluding the prairie pothole regioncontrasted sharply with record amounts of snow and rainfall in the eastern survey area.<br>
<br>The FWS spring surveys provide the scientific basis for many management programs across the continent including the setting of hunting regulations. The four flyway councils and the FWS Regulations Committee will meet in July and early August to recommend and adopt the season structure and bag limits for 2008-09. Individual states will make their selections following these meetings. Hunters should check the Arkansas rules for final dates and other regulations after the Aug. 21 AGFC meeting.<br>
<br>The mallard population was 7 percent below last year. An estimated 7.7 million mallards were on traditionally surveyed areas this spring, compared to last year's estimate of 8.3 million birds. However, mallard numbers were similar to the long-term average.<br>
<br>The most positive news coming out of this year's survey continues to be for redheads, green-winged teal and scaup. For the second straight year, redheads remained above 1 million birds (66 percent above the long-term average). Green-winged teal populations remained similar to the level in 2007 and were 57 percent above the long-term average.<br>
<br>Scaup numbers appear to have stabilized at similar levels for the last 8 years remaining at 3.7 million in 2008, similar to the 3.5 million surveyed in 2007. Breeding scaup numbers remain 27 percent below their long-term average, however.<br>
<br>As expected, some breeding populations declined as habitat conditions deteriorated from 2007 to 2008. Although 6 of the 10 commonly surveyed species showed no significant change, 4 species declined appreciably. Notable declines were in numbers of breeding canvasbacks (down 44 percent from 2007), northern pintails (down 22 percent), gadwalls (down 19 percent), and northern shovelers (down 23 percent). Canvasbacks were at an estimated 489,000 breeding birds in the survey area 14 percent below their long-term average. Pintail numbers declined to 2.6 million, 36 percent below the long-term average. Despite declines from 2007 in numbers of gadwalls and shovelers, populations remain well above long-term averages (both plus-56 percent).<br>
<br>American wigeon numbers, at 2.5 million, remained similar to 2007 levels and the long-term. Although blue-winged teal populations did not change significantly from 2007, they remain well above the long-term average (plus-45 percent).<br>
<br>Since 1990, surveys have been conducted in eastern North America. In contrast to the western surveys most of the eastern survey area experienced record or near-record winter snowfall and spring precipitation accompanied by average to below-average temperatures. Population estimates for the 10 most abundant species surveyed were similar to last year and to the 1990-2007 averages.<br>
<br>Wet and dry cycles, where water levels fluctuate over time, are vital components of maintaining wetland productivity. This is true for all wetlands, but is especially important for the prairie potholes of the northern plains. Although the short-term effect may be fewer breeding ducks, wetlands are rejuvenated during severe droughts.<br>
<br>But droughts are temporary. If grassland and wetland habitats can be kept intact, when the water returns, prairie wetlands will again teem with breeding waterfowl and other wildlife. Equally important to note is that more stable wetland areas such as the boreal forest provide critical nesting habitat, particularly during drought years on the prairies. In 2008, these areas were rated as fair to excellent although in most places spring was delayed by one to two weeks.<br>
<br>As painful as the current drought is, waterfowl and prairie habitats are facing even greater long-term threats. Grassland habitat is under siege on many fronts and is being lost at alarming rates. The U.S. Prairie Pothole Region lost more than 800,000 Conservation Reserve Program acres last year, and more than 3.3 million acres of native prairie are projected to be lost during the next five years, according to F&WS and Ducks Unlimited.