 at 17 percent above the long-term average dating back to 1948 that's according to mike samansky department migratory game bird supervisor by and large all species were either flat to down mallards for instance were down 19 percent pintles down about 29 blue and teal down roughly 13 these species being down from last year is one thing but when you compare to back what we consider to be one of the best periods for breeding ducks that was from 1994 to 2016