Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Rise in Bird Count

February 6, 2020

Annual Survey Estimates Number of Wintering Duck, Geese, and Swans

Photo by Orietta Estrada

In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources made visual estimates of the ducks, geese, and swans along most of the state’s Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 627,000 waterfowl, which was higher than the 566,300 birds observed during 2019, but lower than the five-year average of 738,440 birds.

“The abundance and distribution of wintering waterfowl is influenced not only by the annual changes in population size, but also the weather conditions during migration and throughout the winter,” said Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto. “Moderate winter weather up and down the east coast has allowed most waterfowl species to remain spread out across Maryland and our surrounding states.”

Overall, the number of dabbling ducks was higher (93,000) than last winter (64,400). However, fewer diving ducks (149,700) were observed than in the 2019 survey (182,000). Biologists also counted more Canada geese this year (327,200) than last year (250,200). Following 2018’s record low hatch, Atlantic Population Canada geese benefited from normal spring weather conditions on their nesting grounds in 2019, leading to average gosling production.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually since the early 1950s and covers most of the tidal shoreline and near-shore waterfowl habitat in Maryland.

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results 2016-2020
Rounded to the nearest hundred

Species	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Mallard	41,800	45,300	64,300	39,000	56,000
Black Duck	19,200	25,500	38,300	17,200	21,000
Gadwall	3,200	11,200	3,100	4,800	10,800
Widgeon	500	1,400	700	1,200	1,100
Green-winged Teal	2,400	2,100	500	1,500	2,000
Northern Shoveler	100	100	0	100	300
Northern Pintail	2,600	2,300	1,100	600	1,800
Total Dabblers	69,800	87,900	108,000	64,400	93,000
Redhead	17,900	20,700	27,500	20,600	10,600
Canvasback	19,800	75,100	60,000	46,000	46,900
Scaup	91,800	138,800	45,300	72,100	59,000
Ring-necked Duck	700	400	300	1,100	3,000
Goldeneye	1,100	700	100	100	300
Bufflehead	26,700	12,900	29,500	13,200	11,400
Ruddy Duck	88,000	35,000	24,500	28,900	18,500
Total Divers	246,000	283,600	187,200	182,000	149,700
Scoters	7,100	4,900	4,500	27,800	5,700
Long-tailed Duck	100	2,700	0	300	200
Mergansers	1,100	2,100	2,300	2,000	2,300
Total Ducks	324,000	381,200	302,000	276,500	250,900
Brant	1,000	900	400	900	900
Snow Goose	32,600	21,300	63,500	34,700	40,900
Canada Goose	293,800	394,700	641,000	250,200	327,200
Tundra Swan	11,200	14,500	16,400	4,000	7,100
Total Waterfowl	663,000	812,600	1,023,300	566,300	627,000

News

Media Tools

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Rise in Bird Count