Never common, Canvasback are a species whose frequency of occurrence had dropped noticeably.  We've almost never seen more than 4 individuals on any day, but from 1995-1998, we averaged 10 sightings per year; from 1999-2004, we averaged 4 sightings per year; and we've only had two sightings since then: 2 birds on 2005-11-16, and a lone male on 2007-12-10.

When we have seen Canvasback, they've almost always been out on the lake, with only a few sightings on the slough.