This report summarizes information about the status of dabbler duck populations and wetland habitats during
spring 2013, focusing on areas encompassed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife (USFWS) and Canadian Wildlife
Services’ (CWS)Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS). This report does not include
information from surveys conducted by state or provincial agencies.
In the traditional survey area, which includes strata 1–18, 20–50, and 75–77 (Figure 1), the total duck
population estimate (excluding scoters [Melanitta spp.], eiders [Somateria spp. and Polysticta stelleri], longtailed
ducks [Clangula hyemalis], mergansers [Mergus spp. and Lophodytes cucullatus], and wood ducks [Aix
sponsa]) was 45.6 ± 0.7 [SE] million birds (Figure 3, Appendix A). This represents a 6% decrease over last
year’s estimate of 48.6 ± 0.8 million, and is 33% higher than the long-term averagea (1955–2012; Table 1).
Estimated mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 10.4 ± 0.4 million, which was similar to the 2012