In Minnesota, duck numbers down, goose numbers rebound

[JohnWester]

For the second year in a row, the number of breeding ducks in Minnesota has gone down, according to the Department of Natural Resources' May waterfowl survey. Meanwhile, the geese population increased by 12 percent.

The population fell by 18 percent from last year to 521,000 breeding ducks. The long-term average for breeding ducks in the state is 630,000.

Dave Schad, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife director, said the agency will continue to work with landowners, federal agencies and conservation groups to protect 2 million acres of habitat and increase the duck population to 1 million breeding birds.

The mallard population had the most significant decline, dropping to an estimated 161,000 breeding birds, the lowest recorded estimate since 1983. The breeding population plummeted 33 percent below last year. The 10-year average for mallards is 331,000. Blue-winged teal numbers declined 11 percent to 174,000 birds.

Duck habitat also disappeared, with 12 percent fewer ponds counted from last year.

Wildlife managers around the state have reported fair numbers of duck and geese broods, which could help offset the population decline. Framework for the upcoming waterfowl season will be announced after the DNR receives additional waterfowl data in August.

The waterfowl survey has been conducted each year since 1968 in the state. DNR waterfowl biologists and conservation officers, in low-flying, single-engine planes, travel along the same routes every year over about 40 percent of the state that includes much of the best duck-breeding habitat.

The Canada geese population saw a 12 percent increase from last year to 358,000 birds. The DNR conducts a goose survey by helicopter in April over much of the state, excluding the seven-county metro area.