Historical Insights for Duck Conservation

Waterfowl Populations Over Time:

At 50 Ducks, we empower waterfowl ecology enthusiasts through our comprehensive platform. Our Historical Insights for Duck Conservation allow you to explore critical topics such as historical population trends and significant events from the past and present.

Our “Waterfowl Populations Over Time” application offers an interactive visualization using United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) data. This data is sourced from the Breeding Population and Habitat Surveys, the Eastern Survey Region, and the May pond counts for 2024.

The Breeding Population and Habitat Survey is conducted in late spring and early summer to estimate major waterfowl species’ potential breeding population sizes. Researchers utilize aerial and ground counts across the survey area to count individual duck numbers. This data is then used as input for computer models created by USFWS, CWS (Canada Wildlife Services), and other researchers across the continent to estimate the total breeding population.

“May ponds” refer to the estimated number of ponds counted simultaneously with the waterfowl. This forms part of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) habitat component, often abbreviated as BPOP. The BPOP represents the breeding population of waterfowl and their habitat conditions.

For more details about the Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, the Mid-Winter Waterfowl, or Eastern Survey Waterfowl Counts, please visit the USFWS website: