SACRAMENTO, Calif. Today, Ducks Unlimited Director of Operations Western Region Jeff McCreary commented on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife release of its annual Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey Report. This report indicates the number of breeding ducks in California has declined by nearly 20% since 2019 and is now 45% below the long-term average. Mallards have declined by 25% over the past two years, which is especially important to California waterfowl hunters as two thirds of all mallards harvested in California are produced in the state.

The wetlands used by breeding waterfowl and other breeding waterbirds in California have been hit particularly hard during the current drought, said McCreary. Ducks Unlimited has spent decades in California pursuing science-based solutions to adapt to reduced water availability by increasing water efficiency, reuse and resilience. Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetland habitat for people, wildlife and our California environment in a way that brings benefit to all who use the land.

Jeff McCreary, Ducks Unlimited Director of Operations Western Region.

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Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow, and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.