Mississippi Flyway

The Mississippi Flyway receives most of its waterfowl from the Prairie Pothole Region, as well as from Ontario, the Great Lakes states, and the western boreal forest. In southern Manitoba, a dry spring resulted in a 43 percent decline in May ponds and a 20 percent decline in breeding ducks compared to last year's estimates. But the same wet weather pattern that soaked Alberta and Saskatchewan in May and June also brought much needed precipitation to Manitoba.

DU Canada biologist Mark Francis reports that 2010 appears to have been a productive year for breeding waterfowl across southern Manitoba's pothole country. "Wetlands were in decent shape for early nesting species, and late spring rains ensured that wetlands remained inundated throughout the primary nesting period," he says. "Wetland conditions were favorable for renesting birds, and lone drakes were still being observed on wetlands during the first week of July, indicating that hens were still nesting. Warm temperatures and showers also created good upland cover conditions and drastically delayed haying. Broods of all species were a common sight on wetlands this summer, indicating that both initial nesting success and brood survival were better than average."

In neighboring Ontario, wet weather improved the outlook for waterfowl production in June following an unusually dry spring. "In the south, heavy rainfall recharged wetlands and interrupted haying operations long enough to benefit renesting mallards, black ducks, and other upland-nesting species. In the north, water levels in many wetlands remained significantly lower than normal, but sufficient habitat was available for brood-rearing waterfowl," reports DU Canada biologist Scott Muir. "In mid-July, our field staff observed more late-class broods than early class broods, indicating that many birds had successful first nesting attempts. Many of these older broods also contained full or almost full complements of ducklings, so brood survival also appears to have been particularly good this year. Overall, it appears that waterfowl production was slightly better than average in Ontario in 2010."

Mallards and other waterfowl raised in the Great Lakes states (Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin) make up a large part of the harvest in these states, as well as in other states in the eastern Mississippi Flyway and the mid-Atlantic region. In 2010, an estimated 780,000 mallards were surveyed in the Great Lakes states, similar to the previous year's estimate and the long-term average. While much of this region was dry when waterfowl returned this spring, wetland conditions improved in many areas following late spring and summer rains, benefiting renesting hens and broods.

This was a very good year for Mississippi Flyway Canada goose populations. Breeding success among Mississippi Valley, Southern James Bay, and Eastern Prairie Canada geese was generally good, and these populations should have larger fall flights this year. Among other species, white-fronted geese had variable production, while midcontinent lesser snow geese had another good hatch.