DNR Announces 2009 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results
Canada goose numbers significantly higher this year

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 Annapolis, MD - Monday, March 9, 2009 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have released the results of the 2009 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey. Each winter, pilots and biologists from the two agencies count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast. In January of 2009, the survey teams observed a total of 836,900 waterfowl, similar to the number of waterfowl observed in January 2008.

“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of most waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Larry Hindman, DNR Waterfowl Project Leader. “More typical winter weather led to higher numbers recorded for a few species this year.”

There was a notable increase in number of Canada geese counted by the survey crews.

The higher winter Canada goose count (498,200), was due to a combination of good gosling production from Northern Quebec nesting areas, snow cover and cold temperatures north of Maryland that pushed geese south to the Chesapeake in search of open water and winter foods.

Canada goose estimates reflect a mix of resident and migrant goose stocks, so these survey estimates are not used to set hunting regulations. Hunting regulations change with the population status of Atlantic and Resident populations of Canada geese. These numbers are tracked using breeding population and productivity surveys that are conducted each spring.

The number of mallards counted in this year’s survey (58,300) was similar to 2008 (55,500). Black duck numbers (24,900) also remained unchanged from last winter when 23,000 were counted. Overall, diving ducks numbers were similar to last winter with one exception: scaup numbers were significantly lower (51,600) compared to the 150,000 that were observed on the 2008 survey.

This year’s drop in scaup numbers in the Maryland portion of the Bay may be related to environmental factors influencing migration, but the continental population of lesser scaup has been experiencing a significant long-term decline.

The precise reasons for the decline are unknown; factors under investigation include reduced food resources, declining water quality, contaminants on spring migration stopovers and degradation of breeding habitat in the boreal forest. Climate change may also be negatively influencing food resources on boreal forest and coastal habitats.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually throughout the United States since the early 1950s. The survey provides information on long-term trends in waterfowl populations and is the only source of population estimates for important species such as Atlantic brant and tundra swans. The survey also provides supplementary information on other waterfowl species for which annual breeding population and harvest information is available.

The Maryland Midwinter Waterfowl Survey numbers from 2005 to 2009 are listed below.

Species	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Mallard	52,800	32,500	39,700	55,500	58,300
Black Duck	23,600	13,300	13,800	23,000	24,900
Gadwall	1,400	1,200	1,400	3,000	2,800
Widgeon	2,000	300	400	800	500
G-W Teal	1,000	400	3,300	4,600	1,400
Shoveler	100	--	100	600	400
Pintail	1,900	2,500	500	2,000	800
Total Dabblers	82,800	50,300	59,200	89,500	89,000
Redhead	9,300	1,800	1,100	11,900	12,400
Canvasback	39,400	33,800	13,700	40,100	51,300
Scaup	189,800	79,500	25,700	140,000	51,600
Ring-neck	1,000	500	900	2,100	1,700
Goldeneye	3,000	700	700	800	1,000
Bufflehead	22,000	11,800	12,000	18,400	15,900
Ruddy Duck	36,100	12,100	19,800	19,700	23,600
Total Divers	300,600	140,200	73,900	233,000	157,600
Scoters	40,600	10,000	2,100	2,900	2,900
Long-tailed Duck	4,100	700	500	400	400
Mergansers	5,100	7,000	1,700	4,300	8,900
Total Ducks	433,200	208,400	137,400	330,100	261,000
Brant	1,700	2,400	500	1,400	800
Snow Goose	54,900	49,200	46,600	108,000	61,200
Canada Goose	383,400	305,400	285,700	373,100	498,200
Tundra Swan	13,200	8,200	8,700	11,700	14,200
Total Waterfowl	889,900	577,100	478,900	821,500	836,900

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March 9, 2009

Contact: Ray Weaver 410-260-8002 office I 410-507-7526 cell rweaver@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland 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