DNR Announces 2011 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results
Annapolis, Md. (March 17, 2011) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have released the results
of the 2011 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 2011, survey teams observed 640,700
waterfowl which is lower than the number of waterfowl observed in January 2010
(787,100).
“It is important to remember that the Maryland survey results are ultimately
pooled with results from other states to provide a measure of the distribution
and population of waterfowl wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Larry
Hindman, DNR’s Waterfowl Project Leader. “The survey is conducted in a
coordinated manner across the Atlantic Flyway states to provide an annual index
of the population size for important waterfowl species like black ducks,
Atlantic brant and tundra swans.”
This decline is largely due to the observance of fewer Canada geese and snow
geese along bay shoreline habitats. Large numbers of geese likely went
undetected at inland locations, which are not covered by the survey. However,
wintering Canada geese (397,700) remained high and their numbers were bolstered
by geese pushed south by the cold temperatures and heavy snow cover in areas
north of Maryland.
Overall, greater numbers of ducks were counted in 2011 (199,300) than last
winter (173,700), mainly attributed to higher numbers of mallards (55,600) and
canvasbacks (43,600). In addition, exceptional numbers of gadwalls were observed
on the submerged aquatic vegetation beds on the Susquehanna Flats.
“Cold weather and the associated heavy snow and ice north of Maryland
contributed to higher duck numbers in the Chesapeake," Hindman said.
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.
|
Species |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Mallard |
39,700 |
55,500 |
58,300 |
34,200 |
55,600 |
|
Black Duck |
13,800 |
23,000 |
24,900 |
22,500 |
22,900 |
|
Gadwall |
1,400 |
3,000 |
2,800 |
2,000 |
6,400 |
|
Wigeon |
400 |
800 |
500 |
300 |
200 |
|
G-W Teal |
3,300 |
4,600 |
1,400 |
600 |
600 |
|
Shoveler |
100 |
600 |
400 |
100 |
100 |
|
Pintail |
500 |
2,000 |
800 |
500 |
1,200 |
|
Total Dabblers |
59,200 |
89,500 |
89,000 |
60,100 |
87,000 |
|
Redhead |
1,100 |
11,900 |
12,400 |
3,400 |
4,700 |
|
Canvasback |
13,700 |
40,100 |
51,300 |
26,400 |
43,600 |
|
Scaup |
25,700 |
140,000 |
51,600 |
43,500 |
29,700 |
|
Ring-neck |
900 |
2,100 |
1,700 |
900 |
1,600 |
|
Goldeneye |
700 |
800 |
1,000 |
600 |
300 |
|
Bufflehead |
12,000 |
18,400 |
15,900 |
13,700 |
7,500 |
|
Ruddy Duck |
19,800 |
19,700 |
23,600 |
13,400 |
16,500 |
|
Total Divers |
73,900 |
233,000 |
157,600 |
102,000 |
103,900 |
|
Scoters |
2,100 |
2,900 |
2,900 |
900 |
200 |
|
Long-tailed Duck |
500 |
400 |
400 |
200 |
400 |
|
Mergansers |
1,700 |
4,300 |
8,900 |
10,600 |
7,700 |
|
Total Ducks |
137,400 |
330,100 |
261,000 |
173,700 |
199,300 |
|
Brant |
500 |
1,400 |
800 |
1,000 |
1,500 |
|
Snow Goose |
46,600 |
108,000 |
61,200 |
78,600 |
28,200 |
|
Canada Goose |
285,700 |
373,100 |
498,200 |
519,500 |
397,100 |
|
Tundra Swan |
8,700 |
11,700 |
14,200 |
14,000 |
14,400 |
|
Total Waterfowl |
478,900 |
821,500 |
836,900 |
787,100 |
640,700 |
| March 17, 2011 |
Contact: Josh Davidsburg |
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million 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 11 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