Duck Numbers Are Up

Good things can happen when preparation meets opportunity

By Don Young, Executive Vice President

By most accounts, waterfowl populations have increased this year for a number of species. Extraordinary late spring storms returned water to the prairie breeding grounds, transforming what had been less than ideal conditions into much-improved habitat. The birds responded admirably.

This is good news for duck hunters and other conservationists across North America, especially after the drought that caused a duck decline in recent years. And this is exactly what Ducks Unlimited, its legions of volunteers, members, and our partners have been working extremely hard to provide for more than 65 years: habitat designed to help produce more ducks. That is what our members and partners want. And it is the core of the DU mission. Let’s hope that this year’s conditions signal the end of prolonged drought and the beginning of a series of better breeding seasons for North America’s waterfowl.

Ducks Unlimited continues to dedicate its financial resources to the areas most important to waterfowl. No one needs to be reminded that the breeding grounds are critical to the success of our mission. Staging and wintering grounds are extremely valuable, too, of course, but the fact is that habitat work in waterfowl breeding regions is DU’s number-one priority.

Some say that success equates to preparation being introduced to opportunity. Ducks Unlimited’s preparation, in terms of duck production, is accomplished by conserving and restoring habitat. Our efforts focus on creating the best possible conditions for the birds throughout all phases of their life cycle. DU’s work to conserve and restore large landscapes ensures the conditions are right for long-term success for waterfowl populations. This spring’s storms enhanced the birds’ opportunities to take advantage of this optimum habitat. That amounts to nature taking its course.

We claim no credit for the storms, but our on-the-ground habitat projects and DU’s grassroots support and leadership for vital conservation-friendly legislation (such as CRP in the United States and a new conservation cover program in Canada developed with Agriculture Canada) clearly figure into this equation.

To learn more about what happened on the breeding grounds this spring, look for our annual fall flight report in this issue. Year in and year out, this piece ranks among the magazine’s most popular features. Duck hunters want to know what to expect, or at least get a feel for what went on this spring on the breeding grounds. This year, the story contains much good news. A worthy read, to be sure.

Remember that weather will continue to be a major factor in what you experience locally in terms of duck migration, as it always is. And a good old-fashioned winter would be a welcome change after unusually warm and wet winters in the past two seasons kept many birds from migrating very far south. Nonetheless, this report will provide a well-researched sneak peek into what’s headed your way this hunting season.

In the meantime, here’s wishing you a great season. I think you will agree that the greatest time of the year will soon be upon us. Get out there, and enjoy—and make sure you introduce a friend or family member to this wonderful fall ritual.