In Minnesota, meanwhile, pond numbers declined about one-third from last year. According to Lawrence, the Bemidji waterfowl specialist, pond numbers were the lowest since 1990. Temporary wetlands declined from about 150,000 during the wet spring last year to 5,000 this year. The number of breeding waterfowl in Minnesota and North Dakota is estimated each year as part of an annual North American inventory. Canada's estimates aren't yet available, although the prairies of Saskatchewan and Alberta are very dry.
Reports indicate good duck numbers in South Dakota.