The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the completion of its 2024 breeding waterfowl population survey.

The results of the study show a significant decline in the number of breeding ducks in California. Overall, the breeding duck population is down 25 percent from last year, with mallards, the most common duck species in the study, down 12 percent.

Melanie Weaver, a biologist with the CDFW Waterfowl Program, emphasized the ongoing challenges, stating, “Despite another good water year, the lack of adequate nesting habitat, particularly in the Central Valley, continues to limit the growth of California’s waterfowl population.”

The total number of ducks (all species combined) decreased from 495,438 in 2023 to 373,884 in 2024. This figure is 30 percent below the long-term average. The estimated breeding population of mallards decreased from 202,108 in 2023 to 177,828 this year, also below their long-term average. The decrease is mainly attributed to loss of breeding habitat and the impact of recent drought conditions.

The survey, conducted annually since 1948 using fixed-wing aircraft, provides population estimates for areas where most of California’s waterfowl nest. These areas include wetland and agricultural areas in northeastern California, the Central Valley, the Suisun Marsh, and some coastal valleys.

The majority of California’s wintering duck population comes from breeding areas surveyed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Alaska and Canada. The results of these surveys should be available in August. The CDFW survey information, along with data from other Pacific Flyway states, is used by the USFWS and the Pacific Flyway Council to establish hunting regulations for Pacific Flyway states, including California.

The complete 2024 California Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey Report is available on the (CDFW website)(https://wildlife.ca.gov).

For more information and current updates, visit the CDFW website to stay informed about the status of waterfowl populations and conservation efforts in California.