Waterfowl Management

Tennessee NWR serves as an important wintering ground for thousands of migratory waterfowl using the Mississippi Flyway. In fact, the refuge’s primary management objective is to provide food and protection for waterfowl. Each year the refuge winters approximately 150,000 ducks, and duck numbers can exceed a peak of 250,000 in some winters. The Refuge is a significant wintering area for American black ducks in Tennessee, accounting for 50-75 percent of the population observed during the Mid-winter Survey. Thus, during normal winters the Refuge winters 20-30% of the black ducks occurring in the Mississippi Flyway. Other duck species present in significant numbers during fall and winter include the mallard, gadwall, wigeon, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, pintail, ring-necked duck, canvasback, lesser scaup, bufflehead, goldeneye, and ruddy duck. Although the refuge does not receive high nesting densities of ducks during the spring, the wood duck and the hooded merganser nest on the refuge in impressive numbers.

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