They are especially destructive in years when water recedes from marginal marsh cover, leaving nests stranded on dry ground, or when low water at the beginning of the nesting season necessitates placing nests out of the water. Additionally coyotes, foxes, minks, and weasels prey on ducklings and adults. In the 1930's the population decreased after a series of drought years prevented any reasonable breeding success. Current population numbers were not found in the literature. Desertion of canvasback nests is a far greater problem than in most other waterfowl species.
Hens desert their nest because of flooding or brood parasitism by redheads and other canvasbacks.