The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a report on “Trends in Duck Breeding Populations, 1955-2009.” According to the report, “the total duck population,” excluding scoters, eiders, long-tailed ducks, mergansers, and wood ducks, shows an estimated “13% increase over last year’s estimate of 37.3± 0.6 million birds and was 25% above the long-term average.”
The report can be found here:
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/Ne...ort%202009.pdf
The photo of the chap below was taken outside a Starbucks! He looks like he's been dry-cleaned and fully prepped for hunting season... Including the nice little leg band that I was eying with bad intent.