More birds migrating through the Upper Mississippi valley

Ring-necked ducks
A pair of ring-necked ducks. The brown bird on the left is the female. The male is black and white.
Photo by Dave Herr, courtesy of USDA Forest Service

More birds are migrating through the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge, according to a new survey.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says 500,000 birds migrated through that region last fall, about 100,000 more than the previous year.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wildlife biologist Eric Nelson says the number has been steadily increasing over the past 10 years. But he says having such a large number of birds using one feeding spot isn't a good thing.

"We would like to see a more even distribution through the Upper Mississippi River by providing good habitat, so that anything that would be considered catastrophic wouldn't be. We'd have them more dispersed," he said.

Nelson says other lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin have become unsuitable for ducks, which is one reason they are concentrating on the river.

Nelson also says the population of canvasback ducks has sharply declined, but biologists don't yet know why.

Political Coverage Powered by You

Your gift today creates a more connected Minnesota. MPR News is your trusted resource for election coverage, reporting and breaking news. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.