Waterfowl and wetlands are important components of Texas’ natural heritage. Over the last five years, we have experienced both exceptionally good and poor flights of waterfowl. But, poor flights don’t necessarily mean that duck populations are in trouble. No matter how high the continental population is, weather across the whole flyway significantly influences how many, and when, ducks reach Texas. Recent hunting seasons with record warm weather testify to that undeniable fact.

Continental waterfowl populations are also highly variable from one year to the next. They always have been, and always will be. Why? Because much of their breeding habitat is highly variable. The wetlands of the breeding grounds can be boom or bust due to periodic droughts that can not be avoided. And, all the forces of waterfowl management together cannot manage enough dry habitat to keep populations from declining during drought. Fortunately, ducks have adapted to weather-related ups and downs over thousands of years. After going through record lows in the mid-1980’s, the late 1990’s saw record high populations for some species. In 2003, most populations are above the long-term averages.

But, our waterfowl are indeed facing a crisis, one to which they cannot adapt. It’s not the weather. It’s not predators. It’s the continuing loss of the habitat they need throughout North America. Some of the facts:

Over 53% of the nations’ wetlands are gone. And, as we work , play and hunt, losses continue at the rate of over 100,000 acres per year!

Approximately 70% of the prairie potholes of Canada and the northern U.S. have been lost. This is the most important duck breeding region on the continent.

By the mid-1980’s, Texas had lost over 8,387,000 acres, or 52%, of our state’s wetlands ! That is more acres of wetlands lost than any other state except Florida!

Potential changes to federal wetland regulations could result in accelerated wetland losses, decreased duck production, and closed waterfowl seasons.

Prairie grasslands are being rapidly lost. In 2002 almost 13,000 acres of the best nesting habitat on the continent were lost from two South Dakota counties alone!

Habitat loss is the real threat to waterfowl and the duck hunting we love. What is Ducks Unlimited doing about it?

DU is the ONLY waterfowl conservation organization committed, and delivering on that commitment, to protecting and restoring the habitats that waterfowl require throughout their range. If those habitats continue to disappear, so too will the ducks, and eventually the hunting that is so dear to so many of us.

Last year, DU protected and restored over 490,000 acres of the most important waterfowl habitat on the continent!

Once protected, the breeding habitats financed by DU’s members’ dollars will produce ducks year in, year out.

Over our 66 years, DU and our many partners have conserved almost 11 million acres.

Since work here in Texas began in 1985, over $14,206,000 has been used to help conserve over 163,000 acres in the state for waterfowl and hunters!

DU maintains a field office in Richmond, Texas and is committed to continuing its work here far into the future.

And, because of DU’s efficiency, history, and commitment to waterfowl habitat protection, your dollars are matched by federal, state and other partners several times before being put to work for conservation in Texas and on the breeding grounds! DU’s many partnerships allow us to magnify the impact of your contributions!

DU is influential in the public policy arena that affects waterfowl habitats and waterfowl hunting due to the size and strength of our membership and partnerships.

Last year, over 85% of your DU dollars were spent on waterfowl and wetland conservation. Compare that with other conservation organizations!

DUCKS UNLIMITED: DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF DUCKS AND DUCK HUNTING
YOU ARE DUCKS UNLIMITED: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

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Texas Habitat Projects

Gulf Coastal Prairies Public Lands Projects J.D. Murphree WMA Peach Point WMA Mad Island WMA Guadalupe Delta WMA Estero Llano Grande State Park Private Lands Program Texas Prairie Wetlands Project Southern Great Plains Public Lands Projects Taylor Lakes WMA Buffalo Lake NWR Gene Howe WMA Playa Lakes WMA

West Gulf Coastal Plain Public Lands Projects North Toledo Bend WMA Alazan Bayou WMA Old Sabine Bottom WMA Gus Engeling WMA Keechi Creek WMA Richland Creek WMA Big Lake Bottom WMA Private Lands Program East Texas Wetlands Project Texas WRP 1990-2000 Band Recovery Map Large   XLarge