Tony Vandemore
07-11-2005, 11:58 AM
Significant Increase In Waterfowl Populations This Spring
WINNIPEG – July 4, 2005 - Canadian and U.S. wildlife
officials are reporting significant increases in waterfowl
populations throughout the southern Prairies this spring,
primarily due to improved wetland habitat conditions.
Results from the 2005 waterfowl breeding population survey
also indicate that there are currently about 3.9 million
ponds in the Prairies. This is up 56% from 2004, and 12%
above the long-term survey average.
Dale Caswell, chief of waterfowl management for Environment
Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service in the Prairies, says,
“The results of this comprehensive survey are key to
long-term monitoring of waterfowl populations, and for
setting waterfowl harvest limits each year. It also helps
us evaluate the quality and quantity of wetlands, vital to
maintaining healthy breeding areas for our waterfowl.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the annual North
American waterfowl breeding population survey. Each spring,
biologists from Environment Canada and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service survey more than 3.5 million square km of
habitat, including the Canadian Prairies. This is one of
the largest, most comprehensive and reliable surveys in the
world and a model of international collaboration in
wildlife research and management.
The 2005 survey also indicates:
Breeding ducks have increased by 30% from 2004, but
remain 6% below the long-term average.
Pintail populations are estimated at 1.2 million, an
increase of 79% from 2004
Dabbling duck populations have increased by more than
34% from 2004
Mallards have increased by 10% from 2004
Blue-winged teal have increased 44% from 2004
Diving ducks have increased by 38% from 2004
Canvasbacks are up by 32%, redheads by 22% and lesser
scaup by 72%
Canada geese populations are somewhat less than 2004
at about 534,000.
Survey reports are available at:
http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/reports/reports.html
Dale Caswell
Chief of Waterfowl Management
Environment Canada
Prairie and Northern Region
(204) 983-5260
__________________
WINNIPEG – July 4, 2005 - Canadian and U.S. wildlife
officials are reporting significant increases in waterfowl
populations throughout the southern Prairies this spring,
primarily due to improved wetland habitat conditions.
Results from the 2005 waterfowl breeding population survey
also indicate that there are currently about 3.9 million
ponds in the Prairies. This is up 56% from 2004, and 12%
above the long-term survey average.
Dale Caswell, chief of waterfowl management for Environment
Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service in the Prairies, says,
“The results of this comprehensive survey are key to
long-term monitoring of waterfowl populations, and for
setting waterfowl harvest limits each year. It also helps
us evaluate the quality and quantity of wetlands, vital to
maintaining healthy breeding areas for our waterfowl.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the annual North
American waterfowl breeding population survey. Each spring,
biologists from Environment Canada and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service survey more than 3.5 million square km of
habitat, including the Canadian Prairies. This is one of
the largest, most comprehensive and reliable surveys in the
world and a model of international collaboration in
wildlife research and management.
The 2005 survey also indicates:
Breeding ducks have increased by 30% from 2004, but
remain 6% below the long-term average.
Pintail populations are estimated at 1.2 million, an
increase of 79% from 2004
Dabbling duck populations have increased by more than
34% from 2004
Mallards have increased by 10% from 2004
Blue-winged teal have increased 44% from 2004
Diving ducks have increased by 38% from 2004
Canvasbacks are up by 32%, redheads by 22% and lesser
scaup by 72%
Canada geese populations are somewhat less than 2004
at about 534,000.
Survey reports are available at:
http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/reports/reports.html
Dale Caswell
Chief of Waterfowl Management
Environment Canada
Prairie and Northern Region
(204) 983-5260
__________________