Ducks Unlimited Releases 2024 State Waterfowl Survey Roundup

While these state-led surveys are often overshadowed by the more prominent May Survey, or Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS), they play a crucial role in informing waterfowl management decisions, particularly through adaptive harvest management (AHM) frameworks.

The 2024 state survey results include:

• California reported a breeding duck population of 374,000, marking a 25% decrease from 2023 and placing the numbers 30% below the long-term average (LTA). Mallard populations were down by 12% from last year.
• Washington reported a breeding duck population of 160,000, reflecting a 22% decrease from 2023. Mallard numbers were down 15% from last year.
• Oregon reported a breeding duck population of 303,000, a 53% increase from 2023. Mallards saw a modest 4% increase from last year.
• Wisconsin reported a breeding duck population of 502,000, a 4% decrease from 2023 but still 13% above the LTA. Mallard numbers dropped by 8%, while blue-winged teal and wood duck populations remained stable.
• Michigan reported a breeding duck population of 674,000, up 394% from 2023's record low. Mallards were estimated at 251,000, up 203% from 2023. Canada geese also saw a 29% increase.
• Minnesota reported a breeding duck population of 445,000 (including scaup), a 10% decrease from 2023. Mallard populations declined by 37%.

Each year, survey data from the WBPHS and these state surveys are carefully analyzed and used to inform AHM recommendations by state agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), ensuring harvest frameworks align with the long-term health of waterfowl populations.

"This year’s state numbers present both challenges and reasons for optimism, but we’ll have a clearer picture later this month when the USFWS survey report is released,” said Ducks Unlimited Senior Waterfowl Scientist Dr. Mike Brasher. “In the meantime, we extend our gratitude to our state and provincial partners for their unwavering commitment to the conservation and management of these incredible birds, which for over a century have united us in a cause greater than ourselves.”

This year's state waterfowl survey results highlight progress and ongoing challenges in waterfowl populations, underscoring the need for sustained investments in population monitoring and habitat conservation. Ducks Unlimited continues to charge forward in wetland conservation in North America, recently announcing a milestone of delivering one million acres of conservation in a year. This includes long-term and permanent projects, such as conservation restorations and easements, and short-term or annual efforts, such as agricultural cover crop programs, as well as both new and revisited project sites.

You can read the full state survey roundup on Ducks Unlimited's website for a more detailed analysis.

Feature image via Chris Jennings | Ducks Unlimited.