Ducks

Hunters and bird watchers are wondering what is happening to duck populations. There appears to be fewer ducks nesting in the local area and fewer migrating ducks stopping over.

This year, Minnesota's breeding duck population was the lowest since the drought years of the 1980s, according to annual aerial survey data. The duck hunting harvest was down 23 percent last year.

So, why are there fewer ducks? Loss of habitat and reduced quality of habitat are probably large factors.