California Greenheads on the Decline?

Will Poston for SPLIT REED

Will had the opportunity to chat with Rocque Merlo of Merlo Waterfowl about California waterfowl hunting and the declining population of mallard ducks found in the west coast pacific flyway state. Tune in for the following:

No duck species is more prolific in waterfowling than the North American Mallard. Across the continent, Mallard numbers are up on the long term average. Several flyways and populations, however, are experiencing a different story. For example, estimates of Mallard breeding populations for the Eastern Survey Area (Eastern Canada and Maine) and the Northeast U.S. were down 16 and 19 percent respectively from their long term averages. Historic hunting regions, such as the Chesapeake Bay and much of the Atlantic Flyway, are encountering fewer and fewer Mallards each year. The West Coast is seeing a similarly concerning phenomenon too. California’s population of breeding Mallards, for example, is down 29 percent from the long term average.

It may come as surprising to many, but California has a rich history of hunting and fishing, but that history is fading. Fifty years ago, more than 250,000 sportsmen and women hunted waterfowl in California. Today that number is closer to 70,000. Sure, a myriad of factors is fueling that trend, but the dramatic decline of the mallard population definitely can play a part. Additionally, the decline in hunting participation directly impacts conservation funding that benefits from license sales and various excise taxes.

California’s mallards are declining for a variety of reasons and face several tough realities. Habitat loss and degradation, water allocations, and changing farming practices are the primary factors contributing to the significant decline of California Greenheads. So, to answer some of our questions, we reached out to Rocque Merlo of the California Waterfowl Association.

Far and away, California’s mallard decline is caused by habitat loss and degradation. California has lost 95 percent of its wetlands, primarily to human development. Without suitable habitat, the fate of future waterfowl populations is all but set in stone—and it’s not good. Like so many other wild animals, waterfowl are resilient and will adapt. But without nesting habitat, available food sources, and water, Mallards in California are in a dire position.

“Mallard production has also declined because of lack of suitable brood water, while molting mallards continue to die from botulism which is made worse by limited wetland habitat,” said Merlo. This declining trend of suitable habitat has been exacerbated by the droughts California has experienced in recent years. Merlo added, “drought also affects locally breeding waterfowl by limiting brood water, including actively growing rice fields and small wetlands, and promoting poorer quality nesting cover.” It is important to note too that roughly 70 percent of Mallards harvested in California hatched in the state.

Another factor contributing to California’s decline in habitat and Mallards is recent shifts of agriculture practices. Winter wheat, for example, doubles as excellent nesting habitat, but its acreage has declined recently. Merlo summarized this complex point for us: “Conversion of rice to tree crops has reduced available brood water. Clean farming practices have also reduced available nest cover. Reduction in winter wheat acreage has also reduced nesting cover, as this is a favored crop for waterfowl nesting. Water conservation efforts have also left less ‘sloppy water’ in fields for duck broods to use as temporary habitat.”

California’s drought has also severely affected the cultivation of rice, leaving less food available for ducks. There is also a trend of California farmers shifting from traditional ‘duck food’ crops such as wheat, barley, rice, and corn to fruit and nut crops. This has a two-pronged effect on waterfowl. It decreases the availability of calorie-rich foods that sustain ducks and geese. As Rocque highlighted, the shift in California agriculture practices also has a serious impact on the water and habitat that ducks desperately need. Water allocations have been and will continue to be one of the most controversial issues in California, as dozens of stakeholders compete for the dwindling resource.

Rocque and the California Waterfowl Association remain focused on improving waterfowl populations and hunting communities. In the past two decades, CWA has completed over 1,400 projects, restoring nearly 700,000 acres of habitat for waterfowl and other species of wildlife. In regard to the current Mallard situation in California, CWA has identified several projects to secure more water, improve habitat, and incentivize farmers.

• “CWA continues to seek the acquisition of new water rights for the Lower Klamath refuge. This is the most important step to securing long-term, reliable water supplies for managed wetlands there.”

• “CWA helped secure $10 M in state bond funding for the California Waterfowl Habitat Program, which pays duck clubs to enhance their lands for waterfowl conservation purposes. This includes providing more brood water.”

• “We, along with our waterfowl partners, also supported a legislative measure to pay rice farmers to flood their fields post-harvest for the benefit of waterfowl and other migratory birds.”

• “CWA is sponsoring legislation (AB 2106) this year to fund the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program, which would particularly benefit local mallards and pheasants by paying farmers and duck clubs to establish nesting cover in suitable areas. The bill passed the Assembly and is currently waiting to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.”

• “CWA is also working with wheat farmers to encourage them to delay their wheat harvest in order to save waterfowl nests. This program, while only currently operating on a small scale, has shown success in keeping waterfowl nests and hens from being destroyed by farm equipment.”

We definitely support these measures to improve Greenheads numbers in California. It’s a simple, yet often foreign concept–Better habitat results in better hunting, which drives both participation and conservation. If you’d like to learn more about the California Waterfowl Association’s efforts, check out their website. Also, if you’d like to check out Merlo Waterfowl click the link.