Waterfowl populations soar in latest survey
Improved conditions in much of the waterfowl breeding habitat in Canada and prairies in the north-central states have contributed to higher populations of most species of ducks, based on surveys conducted in May and June by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Total populations were estimated at 45.6 million breeding ducks on the surveyed area, an 11% increase over the 2010 estimate of 40.9 million birds. The impressive population estimate is 35% greater than the 1955-2010 long-term average and only the fifth time in the survey's history that the total duck population exceeded 40 million.

"When Alberta has a good production spring and summer, we'll have a good year, with lots of wintering ducks in the Grasslands of Merced County," said Roger Wilbur, habitat supervisor for the Department of Fish and Game's Los Banos Wildlife Area. "It's a fact you can count on."

The Grasslands is a 200,000-acre mosaic of wetlands, uplands and riparian zones, the largest remaining wetlands complex in the Central Valley. The region, which is made up of national wildlife refuges, state wildlife areas and private duck clubs, attracts the heaviest concentration of wintering ducks that migrate along the Pacific Flyway, the traditional north-south route flown by millions of ducks and geese.

Wilbur expects local production of ducks, as well as non-hunted shorebirds and wading birds, to be exceptional, too.

Events

Splash and Dash

When: Sunday

Where: Hensley Lake

Most biathlons (of the non-Olympic variety) involve running and cycling. This one, put on by the local triathlon club Tri-This!, lets you leave the bike at home and concentrate on swimming and running.

There are two distances: a quarter-mile swim with a 2.5-mile run, or a 0.93-mile swim with a 6.2-mile run. Register on race day from 7 to 7:45 a.m. Wetsuits are recommended. The action begins at 8. Details: splashdashfresno.com.

News & notes

• The first phase of a major restoration project at Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park will begin this summer. The Yosemite Conservancy is providing $850,000 to improve beach access and restore wetlands at the popular destination along Tioga Road.

• A rectangular-shaped granite block estimated at 75 tons fell about 660 feet from Glacier Point on Friday in Yosemite, park geologist Greg Stock reported. There were no reports of injuries or structural damages at Curry Village.

• Public comments are due Monday regarding the proposed recreation fees at the San Joaquin River Gorge Management Area outside Auberry. They should be mailed to Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield 93308; or faxed to (661) 391-6041.