Spring waterfowl population counts by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provide data that the DNR uses to produce population estimates. This year, the estimates are average or below-average for several species of waterfowl that nest in Minnesota. The 2022 breeding population estimates are: Mallards – 231,000, which is 19% below the 2019 estimate and unchanged from the longterm average Blue-winged teal – 161,000, which is 28% below the 2019 estimate and 24% below the long-term average Other ducks, excluding scaup, (such as ringnecked ducks, wood ducks, gadwalls, northern shovelers, canvasbacks, redheads and buffleheads), 175,000 which is 6% below the 2019 estimate and 3% below the long-term average Total breeding duck abundance (excluding scaup) – 567,000, which is 18% below the 2019 estimate and 9% below the long-term average Canada geese – 115,000, which is similar to the 2019 estimate and 27% below the long-term average.