2023 game duck abundance survey results

The results of Victoria’s annual aerial game duck abundance survey show an estimated 7.1 million game ducks in Victoria – almost three times higher than the 2022 estimate.

The results of Victoria’s annual aerial game duck abundance survey show an estimated 7.1 million game ducks in Victoria – almost three times higher than the 2022 estimate.

The Abundance estimates for game ducks in Victoria report, produced by the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, shows the increase in Victoria’s game duck abundance was most likely due to extensive flooding increasing available habitat and breeding activity during 2022.

The survey was conducted from 16 October 2023 to 6 November 2023, with experienced wildlife biologists recording the presence and number of game ducks at 865 randomly selected waterbodies throughout Victoria. Of the 865 waterbodies, 802 were surveyed by helicopter and 63 by ground counts.

Surface water estimates remained high following the heavy rainfall and extensive flooding in late 2022, with an estimated total surface water area of 232,805 hectares during the survey period. This is a five per cent decrease on estimated surface water from 2022 (251,734 hectares) and more than double the surface water estimate in 2021 (122,696 hectares).

Australian Wood Duck was the most numerous game duck species, with the abundance report estimating 2.6 million in Victoria during the survey period. The abundance report also estimated 1.35 million Pacific Black Duck, 1.4 million Grey Teal and 1.2 million Chestnut Teal.

The annual game duck abundance survey is part of a monitoring program that aims to improve our understanding of waterfowl ecology, providing important information on the health of Victoria’s game duck populations. It is the largest and most comprehensive survey of game ducks undertaken in Victoria.

The data collected will be used to inform adaptive harvest management (AHM) to set sustainable duck season arrangements. AHM is set to commence in 2025.

The introduction of AHM is a key action in the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Hunting Action Plan 2021-2024.