According to Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has released its preliminary report on western breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May, and the forecast for next season is really good.

“We’re quite pleased with most of these preliminary results,” said Don Young, DU’s executive vice president. “The 14 percent increase in breeding numbers for the 10 most common species is consistent with what Ducks Unlimited’s field biologists have observed this spring.”

FWS found that duck populations increased 14 percent since last year with an estimated 36.2 million breeding ducks on the prairies. According to the report, habitat conditions were also slightly better than last year, thanks to a warm winter and good precipitation.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is taking vital steps to insure huntable, sustainable populations of waterfowl. On June 20th, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies approved full funding for Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) in 2007, and on June 22nd the full Senate Committee on Appropriations voted to uphold the Subcommittee’s recommendation. According to DU, this is the first time in the 15-year history of WRP that the program has received both Congressional and Administration support of the 250,000 acre cap promised in the last Farm Bill.