DFG Completes 2011 Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey
June 23, 2011
Media Contacts:
Shaun Oldenburger, DFG Wildlife Division, (916) 445-3763
Dana Michaels, DFG Communications, (916) 322-2420
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has completed its 2011 waterfowl breeding population survey. The resulting data show that the overall number of breeding ducks has increased slightly, however, the number of mallards — the most abundant duck in the survey — decreased 14 percent from last year.
“Although surveys indicated a decrease in mallard abundance, habitat conditions were excellent in most of northeastern California and good throughout the Central Valley, so we expect above-average production for all waterfowl species,” said DFG’s Waterfowl Program Biologist Shaun Oldenburger.
The total number of ducks (all species combined) increased from 541,300 last year to 558,600 this year. This estimate is six percent below the long-term average. The breeding population of mallards decreased from 367,900 in 2010 to 314,700 this year. Mallard numbers are below their long-term average.
“Harvest estimates and age-ratios are not available for 2010-11 hunting season at this time,” Oldenburger added. As soon as this information is available, the proportion of hatch-year birds in the 2010-11 harvest may assist in explaining the decline from 2010 to 2011.”
DFG biologists and pilots have conducted this annual survey using fixed-wing aircraft since 1955. The survey covers the majority of the suitable waterfowl nesting habitat in the state, including wetland and agricultural habitats in northeastern California, the SacramentoValley, San JoaquinValley, Suisun Marsh, Napa-Sonoma, Delta and some Foothill areas.
The majority of California’s wintering duck population originates from breeding areas surveyed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Alaska and Canada, and these results should be available in July. DFG survey information, along with similar data from other Pacific Flyway states, is used by the USFWS and the Flyway Council when setting hunting regulations for the Pacific Flyway states, including California.
The Federal regulation frameworks specify the outside dates, maximum season lengths and maximum bag limits. Once DFG receives the USFWS estimates and the frameworks for waterfowl hunting regulations from the USFWS, DFG will make a recommendation to the Fish and Game Commission regarding this year’s waterfowl hunting regulations.
