Written By
Rob Spangler, Division of Migratory Management, and Joe Sands, Region 1 Migratory Bird Management, USFWS
As the 2026 breeding season kicked off across the Canadian prairies, our partners at the Canadian Wildlife Service were already ahead of the curve—monitoring bird movements closely to help us time our survey work just right. Despite lingering late‑spring snow showers, conditions warmed quickly, and by May 8th the waterfowl were settled on the landscape and ready for us. All major species were present, and the drake‑to‑pair ratio sat at 1:1, indicating excellent timing for our survey window.
We began surveying near the U.S.–Canada border, where drought conditions persisted from 2025. Much of the region remained in moderate to severe drought leaving wetlands dry and habitat scarce. As we pushed north toward Calgary, the effects of recent precipitation became evident. Wetland conditions slowly shifted from poor to fair, offering birds a modest improvement in nesting opportunities. East and north of Edmonton, habitat conditions improved further. Wetlands were more numerous and in good shape – full, healthy, and supporting higher concentrations of waterfowl. Approaching Grand Prairie, drying returned and conditions dropped back down to fair, with fewer wetlands and birds than we found near Edmonton. Taken as a whole, waterfowl production across the region looks to be fair this year, but bird distribution and production will be uneven. Breeding duck populations were lower in the drought‑stricken south, improving northward, with the highest numbers in the wetter areas east and north of Edmonton.
As always, a big part of what makes these long surveys rewarding is the people you work with. I especially enjoyed traveling again with Joe Sands – good company, sharp eye (for birds and good restaurants), and always good conversation between transects. It was equally rewarding to work alongside our Canadian Wildlife Service partners who help to make this international survey effort possible.
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