Coordinated statewide surveys of Conservation Area wetlands and National Wildlife Refuges are conducted approximately every other week during the waterfowl season. They are normally conducted on Mondays, weather permitting, and reported on Thursdays.

Please scroll down below the migration report to see waterfowl counts from state and federal refuges.

December has brought temperature flucuations and varying bird numbers throughout the state. The total duck number for the state is now past the peak, although some areas such as Grand Pass are still holding peak numbers of ducks. Duck numbers are well above both the long-term and short-term averages, with mallards comprising 80% of the ducks in the state.

The statewide tally for this week is 256,289 ducks, 136,096 snow geese, 7,011 white-fronted geese, and 2,092 Canada geese. This weeks duck estimate is 32.3% greater than the previous five-year average of 193,669 ducks and 6.8% greater than the previous 20-year average of 240,030 ducks. Our estimate of 225,670 mallards is 63.9% greater than the previous five-year estimate of 137,708 mallards and 25.9% greater than the 20-year estimate of 179,246 mallards.