Black Duck Outcome:Factors Influencing Progress
Several factors could impact our ability to restore, enhance and preserve wetland habitat to support a wintering population of 100,000 black ducks. These factors have directly informed the management actions our partners will take to achieve the Black Duck outcome.
Wetlands Restoration
The restoration, enhancement and preservation of wetlands are necessary to support black duck populations. While not all wetlands are suitable habitat for black ducks, healthy wetlands support black duck abundance. The Black Duck Action Team is collaborating with the Wetlands Workgroup to identify priorities for protection, restoration and enhancement.
Between 2014 and 2024, 4,862 acres of wetlands were gained within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and 61,161 acres were enhanced.
Wetlands Gains, Cumulative
Wetlands gained are measured against the target to create or reestablish 85,000 acres of wetlands.
Wetlands Enhancements, Cumulative
Wetlands enhancements are measured against the target to enhance 150,000 acres of wetlands.
Ecosystem Factors
Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, both within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and at other ends of the Atlantic Flyway population’s range, have a large impact on black duck populations. Food availability, a key factor, is affected by competition as well as proximity to developed or otherwise disturbed lands. Other ecosystem factors influencing black duck populations in the Bay watershed include shoreline disturbance (e.g., due to dredging or development), pressure from invasive species and impacts due to changing environmental conditions (e.g., flooding, salinity changes and salt marsh migration due to sea level rise, shifts in migration patterns or wintering range and changes in weather patterns such as storm intensity and frequency).