Sustaining Waterfowl across Seasons and Regions

While current research suggests that the availability of high-quality breeding habitat, especially on the prairies and in the western boreal forest, is the greatest limiting factor influencing many waterfowl populations, landscapes that support the birds during migration and in winter are also important to sustaining healthy numbers of waterfowl. During the nonbreeding period, wetlands and agricultural habitats provide the food and cover necessary to allow waterfowl to survive and remain in good physical condition until they return to their breeding grounds. But rather than distinguishing between migration and wintering habitat requirements, it is more biologically accurate to view the fall-to-spring habitat needs of waterfowl as a continuum. Dynamic weather, precipitation and seasonal flooding result in dramatic differences in where the birds find resources each year.

In contrast to the breeding season, waterfowl are gregarious and concentrated during the nonbreeding period. Therefore, waterfowl managers can support significant numbers of birds on relatively small pieces of real estate compared to the extensive habitats required by breeding waterfowl. Waterfowlers are familiar with the spectacular concentrations of ducks and geese that gather each year on the Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi River, Mid-Atlantic Coast, Rainwater Basin, Platte River and other well-known staging areas. Many of the waterfowl that rely on DU's highest-priority conservation areas also depend on key habitats in these regions. In addition, large numbers of certain species such as black ducks, sea ducks and Arctic geese breed, migrate, or winter beyond DU's main conservation focus areas. Consequently, a comprehensive approach across seasons and landscapes will be required to ensure the long-term sustainability and enjoyment of all of North America's waterfowl populations. —Dr. John Coluccy