About this Collection

Our Migratory Bird Program pilot biologists and ground crews submit their first-hand observations from the field as they conduct the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. The survey is conducted by airplane, helicopter, and ground over a 2 million square mile area that covers the principal waterfowl breeding areas in North America, and includes parts of Alaska, Canada, and the northcentral and northeast U.S. This survey is also referred to as the Breeding Population Survey (BPOP) or the May Survey. This is the collection of field reports from 2025.

Mark Koneff, Chief, Branch of Migratory Bird Surveys

smoke fills the air behind an airplane on the ground
Image Details
Smoke billows from not-too-distant wildfires as survey crew prepares to depart Lynn Lake, Manitoba. 

I’m pleased to report that the 2025 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, mostly referred to as the “May Survey” was fully completed and is now in the books. In the mid-continent portion of the surveyed area – the prairie pothole region and southern boreal forest – “dry and smoky” provides a pretty good synopsis, with much of this region projected for poor to fair waterfowl production. The dry conditions led to an early, and fairly intense start to the wildfire season across much of the boreal forest of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, western Ontario, and the Northwest Territories. In some prairie areas, heavy rains during the survey did little to improve conditions as the dry soil quickly absorbed moisture. In some other areas, where basins retained the water, the rain came late after many waterfowl had moved through the area resulting in unoccupied habitat during the survey. 

There were brighter spots, however, such as portions of the Alberta and Saskatchewan grasslands as well as parts of the Missouri Coteau in North Dakota. Areas holding water early in the season often harbored high waterfowl densities with overcrowding in some wetlands.Additionally, northern portions of the Northwest Territories, though slightly delayed in spring phenology, had good wetland conditions, and conditions across Alaska were generally observed to be excellent for waterfowl production. Across the eastern survey area from Ontario to Newfoundland conditions were generally good to excellent. 

Every year holds its challenges and 2025 was no exception, however, as always, I’m extremely grateful that the survey was successfully completed and, most importantly, that all our crews as well as the Canadian Wildlife Service crews returned home safely.

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