July 13, 2009 – Despite variable spring conditions, some results from the 2009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Canadian Wildlife Services' Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey are encouraging. The greatest increase in total duck breeding populations in Canada was observed in the Alaska-Yukon Territory-Old Crow Flats area, where estimates were 19% above the long-term average this year. With the exception of southern Alberta, the survey also reported improved conditions in the Prairies, where May ponds have increased by 17% since last year and estimates of five waterfowl species were significantly higher than their long-term averages in some areas. Favorable conditions continue in eastern portions of the pothole region as well as in much of Eastern Canada.
Western Region
British Columbia
Along the coast, temperatures were well above normal in June and most of the snow has now melted. Compounded with very little rainfall, this has led to unseasonably dry conditions. Early July is showing more mixed conditions with a frontal system moving in from the Pacific Ocean, but water supplies will likely remain low, especially for east Vancouver Island and the south coast. Farmers are irrigating regularly to salvage their dry crops and wetlands are lower than normal for early summer. However, habitat conditions have been good for brood-rearing resident waterfowl, and late broods are still appearing on wetlands and estuaries. Many local waterfowl are now flightless as they molt into new flight feathers.
Although the central Interior has experienced good recent precipitation in some areas, habitat conditions are still variable (e.g. good in the Cariboo, poor in the Chilcotin) but fair overall. Breeding effort appeared slightly below normal, and brood survival is still of concern due to the early-summer drought. Hatching dates were all one to two weeks later than normal.
Precipitation has been below average in the southern Interior, where wetlands are in latesummer condition in most areas. Breeding effort appears to be below normal due to dry conditions. Recent rains have improved conditions slightly in the southeast Interior, but habitats are still drier than normal due to poor winter and spring weather.
In the Peace region, precipitation has been 60-85% of normal since April 1, although there was significant rainfall in the past week. This precipitation is likely too late for the current hay crop, but will help some cereals, pastures, and forested ranges. Although water levels in some projects on major drainages rose, habitat conditions are still fair at best given the prolonged drought conditions, cold and late spring, and late frosts. Overall, breeding pair numbers appear to be down about 5-10% from last year, and broods seem a bit delayed from normal years. Some interesting observations include 30 American white pelicans on Swan Lake, and several trumpeter swan broods of five cygnets.
Western Boreal Forest
Precipitation was below average for many areas in the Yukon, where Whitehorse received 72% of its normal rainfall. Many parts of the Northwest Territories have experienced more rain, including Fort Smith, Yellowknife, and Norman Wells, where 200% of normal precipitation amounts have fallen. Observers are reporting good numbers of waterfowl at Brackett Lake and in the Mackenzie River near Fort Good Hope.
The 2009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Canadian Wildlife Services’ Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey) indicates that waterfowl numbers are 19% above the long-term average in the Alaska-Yukon Territory-Old Crow Flats area. This was the best increase for any region in the traditional survey area within Canada. Green-winged teals, in particular, were up 73% from the long-term average.
North of Fort McMurray, Alberta received good to very good amounts of precipitation. Further south, many areas received less than 50% of their normal rainfall amounts. Although Boreal portions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba may have slightly drier conditions than normal, they are still doing much better than the Prairies. In terms of precipitation amounts, Buffalo Narrows received over 200% of normal, Key Lake was just short of 150% of normal, and La Ronge and Prince Albert were at normal. Flow rate in the Churchill River system is near or slightly above normal. Precipitation has been low in the Melfort area, with some recent rainfall in July. Crops are well behind some other southern areas. Mallard, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, shoveler and bufflehead broods have all been observed.
Habitat conditions are fair to good in the Saskatchewan River Delta, where precipitation has been around 75% of normal. The spring has been colder than normal and the nesting season may have been delayed by an estimated two to three weeks. Goldeneye, mallard, canvasback and bufflehead broods have been recorded, and mallards have been observed grouping up. Although anecdotal observations indicate that ringneck populations are up in the area, the majority of them do not appear to have initiated nesting as of the first week in July. USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey numbers in the Saskatchewan River Delta strata are up 8% from the long-term average for all species. However, anecdotally, American coot populations appear to be lower this year.
Although Flin Flon started the spring with below normal precipitation and low water conditions, June rains were plentiful (108% of normal) and most bodies of water are now normal or near normal. The first broods appeared around the second week of June, which was a couple of weeks behind normal due to the late spring.
Alberta
Dry conditions prevailed across the agricultural area of Alberta in June, continuing the trend that started in the fall of 2008. Some areas experienced the driest June in 50 years.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reports indicate that growing season precipitation totals have been 40-60% of normal for much of the south Peace Parkland, northwest Boreal Transition Zone, west Aspen Parkland, and north and west Prairie. Northwest of Edmonton and in the north Prairie, totals are less than 40% of average. In all other areas, totals are 60-85% of normal, except for the southeast Prairie and north Peace Parkland where average precipitation amounts have fallen.
The first week of July has seen the arrival of rainy weather throughout the province. In the south Peace region, over half the normal July rainfall fell in the first week of the month. Elsewhere, there have been local heavy rainfall events. The precipitation has stimulated grass and crop growth, but has had minimal effect on wetland water levels due to a significant moisture deficit. Many rural municipalities have declared drought disasters. Forage supplies are becoming scarce and field crops are being written off.
Compared to last year, the 2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey reports a 19% decline in spring pond numbers and a 22% decline in waterfowl numbers in southern Alberta. When duck numbers were compared to 2008 and to the long-term average, respectively: mallards were -14% and -31%; northern pintails were -28% and -76; blue-winged teals were -41% and -22%; gadwalls were -5% and +28%; redheads were -59% and +10%; canvasbacks were -34% and -21%; and scaups were +63% and -17%.
As a result of dry spring and early summer conditions, coupled with a lower waterfowl breeding population, waterfowl production in the agricultural area of Alberta will be generally poor with pockets of fair. Field staff report that the below average conditions have delayed breeding activity and have resulted in small brood sizes. Recent rains probably arrived too late to have an effect on breeding activity but may enhance local brood survival in some areas.
Saskatchewan
According to the 2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey, total duck numbers in the province were down 10% compared to 2008 but are still 7% above the long-term average. Northern pintail and scaup numbers increased this year, but both species remain well below the long-term average. May pond counts were up 37% compared to 2008 and were 11% above the long-term average.
Since May pond and breeding surveys were completed, wetland conditions have improved in many areas of the province due to rainfall. In particular, central parts of the province have received up to 127mm of rain. The Thickwood Hills, Allan/Dana Hills and Touchwood Hills have all received 50-127mm of rain in the last two weeks. Thus, wetland conditions across most of the Parklands are good. Dry conditions persist in the southwest and acrossparts of the Missouri Coteau. Wetlands are fair across much of the Prairie but improve closer to the U.S. border, especially in the Coteau. Wetland conditions are also fair in the southeast, but are good around the Estevan area.
Breeding activities appeared to be late this year, with below-normal temperatures persisting in the spring. Some broods were observed in early June, but peak hatch seemed to occur in late June. The recent rains should help to improve wetland conditions for brood survival, as water is in the emergent zone of most large wetlands. However, temperatures across the province remain below normal, which could also influence brood survival into the fall. Given the late hatch, overall production is expected to be fair across most of Saskatchewan. Interestingly, there are still a number of paired birds and even some flocks of field-feeding birds.
The recent rains across the province have also helped to improve pastures and crops. Most crops are behind schedule. Dry conditions early in the summer were particularly damaging to crops in the west-central portion of the province, and recent rain events were too late to help. Crops in the central part of the province have improved but are patchy depending on the amount of rainfall. Hay is starting to be cut, although it is quite short and has started to develop seed heads.
Manitoba
Wetland conditions remain favorable throughout most of southwest Manitoba. However, an anticipated bumper year for waterfowl is shaping up to be more of an average year, largely due to poor climate conditions during initial nesting and hatching.
The 2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey has confirmed field observations of an increase in initial pairs settling in southwest Manitoba. Total breeding pair counts are up 12% from last year. Most notable was an increase in the number of breeding canvasbacks and northern pintails, although they are still down from the long-term average. May pond counts also increased considerably compared to last year, thanks to a good spring runoff.
Wetlands remain in favourable condition for broods throughout the three major breeding areas of the Killarney, Virden and Minnedosa/Shoal Lake pothole regions. Only some areas in the extreme southwest corner of the province require substantial rainfalls to improve brood-rearing conditions.
Despite favorable wetland conditions overall, production will be slightly lower than anticipated due to poorly timed climatic events. Low temperatures, rain and frost persisted during the later part of May and early June, which coincided with the initial hatch dates of early-nesting waterfowl. This had a large negative effect on mallard, pintail and canvasback broods. Field observers continue to report fewer older broods (those that would have hatched prior to mid June) and smaller brood sizes. On a positive note, a strong renesting effort has been observed and brood numbers and sizes of later hatching birds are noteworthy. Recent rains have also delayed some haying operations, which should improve hatching success of renesting birds.
Eastern Region
Ontario
Wet weather continues to be the norm for most of southern Ontario, where habitats remain in very good condition. Much of the south central and southwest parts of the province, including the Bruce Peninsula, have been the wettest locales this year. These areas have received 115-150% of their average precipitation, while rainfall throughout the rest of the southern region has generally been near normal. Permanent wetlands remain plentiful and are at or near full supply, which bodes well for developing broods. The arrival of summer has finally brought more seasonal temperatures to the region, but they still remain on the cooler side of normal. Water levels in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and Lake Ontario are still slightly above their respective long-term monthly averages, while those of Lake Huron and Lake Superior continue to be lower than normal.
Although wet weather has been the norm in the northeast, the northwest part of the province has experienced significantly drier weather, especially along the western end of Lake Superior where rainfall has ranged from only 40–85% of the average total amount. Despite this significant difference in precipitation totals, habitats are still in decent shape throughout the north. Warmer temperatures have finally returned to the Hudson Bay Lowlands, although they've arrived too late to significantly alter reproduction outcomes.
Although the 2009 USFWS/CWS Waterfowl Survey reports no significant change since 2008 in population estimates for 10 of the more abundant waterfowl species in eastern survey areas, sightings of duck broods continue to be limited. This may be because broods are more widely distributed across an abundant wetland base, or because frequent rainfalls have caused extensive nest loss from flooding or cool temperatures have affected insect hatch or brood survival. Field reports confirm a typical prolonged breeding effort. However, it appears that many birds renested several times as evidenced by either very late or very early age class broods. Banding efforts later this summer should provide more insight into actual production outcomes. While local Canada goose production numbers continue to explode across southern Ontario, northern production from Southern James Bay Population and Mississippi Valley Population geese is expected to be well below average. Overall, 2009 waterfowl production is expected to be near average for Ontario.
Quebec
Temperatures have been close to or slightly colder than normal for the whole province. Total precipitation has also been close to or below normal in most regions. Two exceptions were Quebec City, which received around 15% more precipitation than average, and the Abitibi region, which received 60% less precipitation than average.
The mean St. Lawrence water level is 13cm higher than normal. Water levels in wetlands and marshes have decreased due to poor precipitation, but still received sufficient amounts to ensure good rearing conditions.
At Bylot Island, temperatures are favourable for a good breeding effort. The peak laying date for the greater snow goose (80 nests) was around June 10 or 11. Clutch sizes are an average of 3.4 eggs per nest, which is slightly below the long-term average of 3.7 eggs.
Based on preliminary results of the breeding waterfowl survey in eastern Boreal forests, production should be normal, with many broods and a mean clutch size close to the average. Habitat conditions remain generally good across Quebec.
Atlantic Canada
Colder than normal temperatures have continued from June into mid July. Last week saw overnight temperatures down as low as 5 C, and frost was reported in some areas. However, long-range weather forecasts are still calling for seasonal temperatures. Precipitation has been above normal, and normal amounts are predicted for the remainder of the summer.
With higher precipitation and lower daily temperatures, many waterways remain swollen above typical seasonal levels. Although this tends to limit typical shallow water feeding areas for broods, resultant standing water in areas that don't normally hold water this time of year has increased food availability. An increased presence of shallow-water ponds should more than make up for any impact that high water has on prey and food dilution.
In spite of less than ideal "summer" weather, waterfowl broods seem to be in good shape. Many species were observed breeding early, which resulted in many broods in the 2C age class already. These larger young should be able to cope with the cold and rain. Several large broods are being observed, which indicates good survivorship thus far.
Reports from goose banding efforts indicate that reproductive success has been high and many larger broods are nearly at the flying stage.
Given favourable spring habitat conditions, reports of early and numerous broods, and observations of many healthy 2C broods, overall conditions remain very good in the Atlantic provinces.
Prepared by Meagan Hainstock, based on reports provided by the following field contacts:
- British Columbia – Bruce Harrison
- Alberta – Ian McFarlane
- Saskatchewan – Michael Hill
- Manitoba – Mark Francis
- Western Boreal Forest – Brent Friedt
- Ontario – Scott Muir
- Quebec – Patrick Harbour
- Atlantic Canada – Adam Campbell