WI Waterfowl Populations Stable News | July 30, 2024 | 0 | by Morgan McCarthy Waterfowl populations in Wisconsin are stable. The state Department of Natural Resources says the breeding duck population is estimated at about 502-thousand birds. That’s a nearly four-percent decrease from last year but is above the long-term average. Both wood duck and Canada goose populations are similar to last year’s numbers, and higher than the long-term average. More specific data is available on the Wisconsin Wildlife Reports website. Spring waterfowl breeding surveys have been conducted every year for more than two decades.