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Well, we do too! At the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), ducks and geese are one of our priority mandates: we work on the implementation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, with our American and Mexican partners. This plan provides guidelines to maintain waterfowl populations
(swans, geese and ducks; see identification guide) at healthy levels and specified population
objectives are set for most waterfowl species. For some specific species/groups of waterfowl whose populations are of particular concern, Joint Ventures have been established to bring specialists together to
identify priorities for these species/groups: Arctic Goose Joint Venture, Black Duck Joint Venture and Sea Duck Joint Venture. Surveys, banding and research are major conservation activities for waterfowl populations.
 A CWS team annually surveys breeding pairs of Canada Geese—one of the Arctic Goose Joint Venture target species—in northern Québec. Studies are also conducted on the Canada
Goose’s northern nesting grounds in order to better understand the species’ breeding ecology. Banding provides knowledge on distribution, movement, longevity and causes
of mortality. Furthermore, since Canada Geese also breed in the boreal forest in the southern part of the province, the Black Duck Joint Venture helicopter survey also provides information on breeding pair increases and decreases (trend) for this goose.
 The Greater Snow Goose is also on the Arctic Goose Joint Venture list. In recent years, studies have been
under way to learn more about breeding success, predation rates, etc. This species has largely exceeded North American Waterfowl Management Plan objectives and current population levels threaten the
integrity of the natural environment and some agricultural habitats. To limit the potential negative effects of this overabundant species, we hope to stabilize the population by 2002. A spring conservation harvest is one of the many techniques used to achieve this goal.
 The American Black Duck has a joint venture just for
itself! Even though it is the most abundant species of duck in Québec, concern for the population in the 1980’s has led managers to closely monitor its numbers. This is why, every year since 1990, we have
conducted helicopter surveys in the boreal forest, the species’ principal breeding grounds in the province. You can consult the 2003
annual report (PDF format) for the survey results.
 The Barrow’s Goldeneye—another species on which the CWS-Québec Region has an eye—is part of the
Sea Duck Joint Venture. The 15 species of this joint venture are among the least known even though they make up 42% of the breeding species in North
America. Initiated in winter 1998, satellite tracking of Barrow’s Goldeneye has allowed us to confirm nesting for the first time in Québec! Moulting sites used
by males have also been located. The Black Duck Joint Venture helicopter survey in the boreal forest also provides breeding pair trends for the Barrow’s
Goldeneye.
 Another species in the Sea Duck Joint Venture, the Harlequin Duck, is in a critical situation: the eastern
population is endangered in Canada. For this reason we keep the species under active review. Using satellite tracking, biologists hope to verify the existence of two
distinct Harlequin Duck populations in eastern North America, and to establish geographical limits for the two populations. Breeding, feeding and behavioral ecology are also research subjects in eastern Canada.
 The Black Duck Joint Venture helicopter survey provides us breeding pair trends of 19 other loon
and ducks species for whom the boreal forest is also the breeding grounds: Common Loon, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser and Red-breasted Merganser.
Other texts on waterfowl:
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