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Waterfowl Biology & Research


Learn all you could ever want to know about ducks and geese!  DU biologists have accumulated a wealth of research and findings about waterfowl and their behavior.  Whether looking for tips to improve your waterfowl ID skills or learning more about migration patterns, you've come to the right place!

Waterfowl ID

Learn fascinating information about various waterfowl species including breeding and migration information. In addition, you can even listen to what the waterfowl sound like in the wild, so you can easily identify them on your next outing. View the Gallery  | Waterfowl ID Quiz

Understanding Waterfowl

Ducks Unlimited has conducted extensive research on waterfowl biology. Our biologists have written numerous "Understanding Waterfowl" articles in DU Magazine. We're pleased to share dozens of these features online for you!  View articles

Waterfowl Lifecycle

In the space of one year a duck experiences the full spectrum of seasonal changes that usher in opportunities & challenges. Follow the life cycle diagram for a better understanding of the activities and energy requirements in different phases of a duck's annual cycle. Follow a Mallard Through the Annual Cycle.

Wood Duck Boxes

Creating a wood duck box and strategically placing it can draw birds into an area and create a local population. Learn how to build and maintain a wood duck box on your property!

Where Do Your Ducks Come From?

Did you know that biologists band more than 200,000 ducks and 150,000 geese every year?  With roughly 90,000 bands reported each year, the data explains waterfowl migration and habits.  As birds are reported or harvested, this information is placed onto maps, showing where the bird was banded and where it was reported.  These maps provide a glimpse of not only migration corridors, but where ducks in your area come from. Learn more.
More Stories  (305 Total)
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Status of the Wood Duck
Once threatened with near extinction, populations of one of North America’s most recognizable and celebrated waterfowl are now stable or increasing



Saving the Sprig
Bringing back the pintail to its former abundance



Understanding Waterfowl: Ways of the Wigeon
These fascinating ducks have many characteristics and behaviors that set them apart



Waterfowling's Perfect Storm
Learn to read a weather map before you head out






Parental Care
Early life for young waterfowl can range from surviving in a single-parent family to living a bird’s version of an Ozzie and Harriet-style childhood.



Ducks 2050
What might the coming decades hold for waterfowl and duck hunters?



A Bird's-Eye View
An in-depth look at the amazing visual abilities of waterfowl



Waterfowl Hybrids
Crossbreeding produces rare and interesting birds but also threatens the survival of some species



Scientific Waterfowling
Recent waterfowl research may have practical applications for waterfowlers



North Dakota 2012 Spring Breeding Duck Survey
Spring Duck Index Up, Water Conditions Down



Upper Mississippi River
Level III Ducks Unlimited conservation priority area, providing a migration corridor for hundreds of thousands of dabbling ducks and significant numbers of divers



Duck Hunters Rainbow
Major rain events can lead to some of the season’s best hunting



Remington
Any load. Anywhere. Every time.



Mallards & Flooded Timber
Bottomland forested wetlands are havens for wintering waterfowl



A Brighter Future for Great Lakes Mallards
DU researchers find that the conservation strategies needed to build mallard populations in the Great Lakes states differ from those needed to improve duck production on the prairies



Cleaning and Maintaining Wood Duck Boxes
Tips for keeping your wood duck nesting boxes in good condition season after season



Diving Ducks: Into the Deep
Diving ducks are perfectly designed for feeding in deep-water habitats.








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