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2008 Maryland Midwinter Survey Results Indicate Waterfowl Population Increase
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Each winter, pilots and biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast as part of the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey. During January of 2008, biologists observed a total of 821,500 waterfowl, which represents a substantial increase from counts during the mild winters of 2006 and 2007.“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Paul Peditto, Director of DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service. “More typical winter weather lead to higher numbers recorded for several species this year.”
The most notable increase was large numbers of Mallards (55,500) seen by the survey crews. The Mallard count this year was Maryland’s highest in the past five years, up 15,800 from 39,700 in 2007. Black Ducks (23,000) also showed a substantial increase, up from the 13,800 noted in 2007. Numbers of diving ducks, including Canvasbacks (40,100), Scaup (140,000) and Redheads (11,900) were higher this winter compared to 2007 when warm weather delayed the migration and led to large numbers of divers remaining north of the Chesapeake. Canada Goose numbers (373,100) were above the 285,700 counted in 2007
The Maryland Midwinter Waterfowl Survey numbers from 2004 to 2008 are listed below.
Species
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Mallard
48,200
52,800
32,500
39,700
55,500
Black Duck
31,700
23,600
13,300
13,800
23,000
Gadwall
2,500
1,400
1,200
1,400
3.000
Widgeon
6,000
2,000
300
400
800
G-W Teal
1,200
1,000
400
3,300
4,600
Shoveler
100
100
--
100
600
Pintail
4,600
1,900
2,500
500
2,000
Total Dabblers
94,300
82,800
50,300
59,200
89,500
Redhead
6,100
9,300
1,800
1,100
11,900
Canvasback
30,800
39,400
33,800
13,700
40,100
Scaup
106,300
189,800
79,500
25,700
140,000
Ring-neck
200
1,000
500
900
2,100
Goldeneye
1,000
3,000
700
700
800
Bufflehead
9,800
22,000
11,800
12,000
18,400
Ruddy Duck
34,000
36,100
12,100
19,800
19,700
Total Divers
188,200
300,600
140,200
73,900
233,000
Scoters
8,100
40,600
10,000
2,100
2,900
Long-tailed Duck
400
4,100
700
500
400
Mergansers
18,700
5,100
7,000
1,700
4,300
Total Ducks
215,400
433,200
208,400
137,400
330,100
Brant
1,300
1,700
2,400
500
1,400
Snow Goose
93,900
54,900
49,200
46,600
108,000
Canada Goose
355,200
383,400
305,400
285,700
373,100
Tundra Swan
17,900
13,200
8,200
8,700
11,700
Total Waterfowl
781,300
889,900
577,100
478,900
821,500
The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey is conducted at the same time each winter in every state in the Atlantic Flyway, from Maine to Florida. Most of the Maryland’s tidewater waterfowl habitats were surveyed between January 4 and 10, but Bloodsworth and South Marsh Islands were not completed until January 23.
March 3, 2008 Contact: Olivia Campbell
410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell
ocampbell@dnr.state.md.usMaryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov