Waterfowl Waterfowl depend heavily on areas that would be exduded. Waterfowl require a variety of different wetland types for wintering, for resting during migration, and for breeding. Many of these wetlands are wet only in the winter or for short periods in which waterfowl use them. These would no longer qualify for protection. Many of these exduded wetlands provide vital food supplies at times when food is unavailable in more permanently wet wetlands.
Scientists attribute sharp declines in duck populations largely to the loss of wetlands.
Mallards, America's most prevalent duck and most important game species, have dedined by nearly one-half since 1955. Northern pintails have declined by more than two-thirds. The bottomland hardwood areas of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana provide the nation's most important wintering ground for mallards. An estimated 50 percent of these wetlands would be excluded by the proposed manual. Migratory resting grounds.