Mike Brasher

1 week ago | ducks.org | Scott Stephens |Nathan Ratchford |Mike Brasher

By Scott Stephens, PhD; Nathan Ratchford; and Mike Brasher, PhDBlue-winged teal are often the last dabbling ducks to return to the breeding grounds in spring and the first to head south in late summer and early fall. Over the past couple of decades, blue-winged teal have been among North America’s most abundant dabbling ducks, with a peak breeding population estimate of 9.2 million in the traditional survey area in 2012.

Oct 29, 2024 | ducks.org | Mike Brasher |John M. Coluccy |Scott Stephens

By Mike Brasher, PhD; John Coluccy, PhD; Scott Stephens, PhDWaterfowl managers and hunters finally had something to cheer about, even if modestly, when the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released the highly anticipated 2024 Waterfowl Population Status report in late August. The report showed that total duck numbers in the traditional survey area increased by 5 percent above the 2023 estimate, marking the first documented increase in nine years.

Aug 30, 2024 | ducks.org | Mike Brasher |Nathan Ratchford

By Dr. Mike Brasher and Nathan RatchfordSince it was first detected in 1996, the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus has spread to wild and domestic birds around the world. Duck hunters are eternal optimists. It’s what stirs us at 4 a.m., with coffee brewing and decoys rigged despite three straight days of empty straps. But occasionally, that optimism is challenged in unexpected ways.

Dec 5, 2023 | wonews.com | Mike Brasher |Dan Smith |John M. Coluccy

By Mike Brasher, PhD; Dan Smith, PhD; John Coluccy, PhDDucks.orgSACRAMENTO– For most waterfowl biologists and hunters, some of this year’s waterfowl survey results, which were released in mid-August by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), came as an unpleasant surprise. In the spring of 2022, following years of prairie drought, the number of ducks arriving and settling on the breeding grounds was lower than it had been since 2005.

Nov 1, 2023 | ducks.org | Mike Brasher |Dan Smith |John M. Coluccy

By Mike Brasher, PhD; Dan Smith, PhD; John Coluccy, PhDFor most waterfowl biologists and hunters, some of this year’s waterfowl survey results, which were released in mid-August by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), came as an unpleasant surprise. In the spring of 2022, following years of prairie drought, the number of ducks arriving and settling on the breeding grounds was lower than it had been since 2005.