Totals from this year’s waterfowl breeding population survey showed that Minnesota’s breeding mallard and blue-winged teal numbers are higher than last year by over 20% and the total duck population has also increased.
“This year’s survey revealed the state’s breeding mallard population to be about 298,000, which is 23 percent above last year and nearly identical to the most recent 10-year average. Additionally, the number of breeding mallards this spring is 34 percent above long-term averages. Blue-winged teal numbers increased 23-percent from last year to 152,000, but remained 32-percent below the long-term average.”