A recent survey of waterfowl breeding populations in California shows a 20 percent decline in the number of breeding Mallards over last year. According the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which conducts the annual survey, breeding Mallards were down to 238,700 from the 298,600 counted in 2013. While the total number of breeding ducks was only slightly slower -- 448,750, compared to 451,300 last year -- this year's number is nonetheless 23 percent below the long-term average. The results speak to the degradation of Central Valley habitat due to the ongoing drought.

“Habitat conditions were poor the last two years in both northeastern California and the Central Valley and the production of young ducks was reduced as a result, so a lower breeding population was expected in 2014,” said CDFW’s Waterfowl Program Biologist Melanie Weaver. “We would expect another low year of duck production from these two important areas in California in 2014. However, habitat conditions in northern breeding areas are reported to be better than average.”