I used to do counts at a local roost. 15-20 years ago there were 1000-1200 Mallards coming to it every evening in late December.I have checked it twice recently. There were 0 Mallards, 2 black ducks, and 25 wood ducks.
Here what recent science is telling you. The plentiful mallard population from 20-40 years ago was the result of massive release projects(to the north of us)which interbred with the wild Mallards. As the releases slowed down and/or moved south, the resulting hybrids haven't produced well enough to keep a steady population of Mallards in the Atlantic Flyway.
I think overtime, the bad genetics will be reduced to get an almost wild Mallards again, which will breed and have better nesting success than the break even point of aporox15%.
As far as SC is concerned, they need to manage for ducks that still migrate this far(ex=ring necks, teal, pintails).
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