Ontario

Earlier this year, there were concerns about breeding habitat throughout the province (especially in the south) due to a lack of snowpack and warm temperatures. However, significant April and May rains have resulted in good conditions for breeding waterfowl and early-hatching broods. The exception to this is southwestern Ontario, much of which received 50 per cent of normal precipitation amounts. This has resulted in low water-level alerts, as well as poor to fair wetland habitat conditions.

With the relatively early advancement of spring, broods of Canada geese appeared about two weeks earlier than usual. Mallards were into a strong nesting effort by mid April, and young broods are now being reported across the province.

As long as timely rainfall events occur throughout June and July, waterfowl production will likely be good this year.