North Dakota's regular waterfowl season opens today and hunters won't need to be told the obvious - it's dry out there.

As a result, ponds and marshes that waterfowlers are accustomed to hunting may not hold many birds this fall.

Mike Szymanski, waterfowl biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department said that reproduction was spotty.

"These conditions left habitats such that few ducks initiated nesting efforts early," he said. June moisture didn't help conditions much, but it did spark some late nesting by mallards, gadwall and some blue-winged teal.

Overall, the hatch was down in the western two-thirds of the state and about average in the eastern third. Bottom line, Szymanski said, there will be plenty of wary birds out there as there are fewer young birds.

In July, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its annual breeding survey and while there were a few surprises, overall production in the prairie region was down. Overall, however, numbers were up 11 percent over the long-term average for 10 species.

In the May pond count for the United States and Canada, there was a 37 percent decline compared to a year ago and 10 percent down from the long-term average.

The mallard population was relatively stable, down 7 percent, but five species saw double-digits drops in numbers.

Gadwalls were down 19 percent, widgeons 11 percent, shovelers, or spoonbills, down 23 percent, and pintails were down 22 percent. Canvasbacks saw the biggest drop - 44 percent.

While most of the state is drier than it was last year, the eastern third appears to have the most moisture.

Szymanski said biologists have completed a fall wetland survey and are putting together the data now. Three duck species saw increases in populations: scaup (bluebills), up 8 percent, green-winged teal, up 3 percent, and redheads, up 5 percent.

Szymanski said the increases in those species is largely inconsequential and likely a result of sampling errors or rounding up numbers. Bottom line - the best duck hunting will be in the eastern part of the state.

Blue-winged teal numbers were down 1 percent.

While overall mallard numbers were down slightly in the U.S. and Canada, North Dakota hunters will notice a bigger change.

In the eastern part of the state, mallard numbers declined 24 while they dropped 36 percent in the west.

Goose hunters can expect another good fall flight based on biologist observations. Resident Canada geese continue to be abundant across the state.

However, Szymanski said a low nesting effort will result in fewer geese in the western portion of the state.

"Dry conditions out west not only resulted in lower reproduction, but also more adult birds leaving the area to molt their flight feathers," he added.

The same can be said for many duck species who will likely do a "fly-by" and keep going south or east to find ponds with water for staging areas.

Reports from the Arctic indicate good weather conditions this summer. While biologists have not yet conducted reproduction surveys for Arctic nesting geese, conditions should result in a good fledgling rate.

"There certainly will be more young birds in the fall flight of light geese than last year, which was essentially a reproductive bust," Szymanski said.

Opening day for North Dakota residents to hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers is Sept. 27. Nonresidents may begin waterfowl hunting in North Dakota Oct. 4.