Waterfowl and a multitude of wildlife rely on wetlands for food, water and shelter, especially during migration and breeding.
Species live in wetland environments
of wildlife live and breed in wetlands
Of protected migratory birds rely on wetlands
Ducks Unlimited started in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America's drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by, a small group of sportsmen joined to form an organization that would come to be known as Ducks Unlimited. Our mission: habitat conservation. Thanks to 90 years of improving the landscape, waterfowl and wetland-dependent bird populations are thriving. Today, waterfowl are a rare bright spot in bird populations, thanks to the impact of conservation efforts. 2024 Duck Population Numbers
Wetlands conservation benefits more than waterfowl. Many North American wildlife species depend on wetlands throughout their life cycle. Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on earth, providing environmental benefits comparable to tropical rain forests and coral reefs. But wetlands are disappearing: 87% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in the last 300 years.
Wetlands support abundant populations of fish, ranging from freshwater bass and trout to saltwater salmon and redfish. Wetlands help regulate water flow and temperature, creating suitable conditions for fish to thrive. They serve as vital spawning grounds, nursery areas and feeding grounds.
Wetlands play a crucial role as stopover points and wintering grounds for shorebirds during migration. Species such as sandpipers, plovers and egrets rely on wetlands for feeding, resting and nesting. Wetlands offer rich feeding grounds and provide safety from predators and adverse weather conditions during migration.
Wetlands are one of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, with 40% of all plant and animal species living or breeding in wetlands. Invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans and mollusks thrive in wetlands. Approximately half of all Endangered Species Act species in the United States are wetland dependent.
Ducks Unlimited conserves wetlands to provide resources waterfowl and other wildlife need throughout their vast continental ranges, from breeding grounds to migration stops along the flyways to the way to wintering areas. It’s all about biodiversity. Marshes, swamps, bogs and fens provide habitat for over 900 species of plants and animals. We conserve prairie potholes on the northern Great Plains, wetlands in the Western Boreal Forest, bottomland hardwood forests in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, flooded rice fields in the Central Valley of California and coastal marshes along the Gulf of Mexico.
Wetlands, waterfowl, and wildlife across North America are threatened by wetland drainage, coastal wetland loss and impacts of climate change. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
Behind the Scenes with Eastern Mallards
The Critical Role of Wetland Biodiversity
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