Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces Midwinter Waterfowl Survey 2023 Results

February 7, 2023

Annual Survey of Wintering Waterfowl Finds Increase in Diving Ducks

Canvasbacks in the Choptank River, photo by Kenny Page, submitted to the 2022 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.

In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 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 632,200 waterfowl, which was higher than the 563,800 birds observed in 2022 but lower than the most recent five-year average of 682,520 birds.

“The distribution and abundance 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. “The surveys our staff conduct provide a snapshot of where waterfowl are located in the state and are combined with data from other states in the flyway to track the status of several important waterfowl species.”

Overall, dabbling ducks were similar (93,600) to 2022 (97,600). While the number of pintails counted in the survey dropped slightly (3,300 in 2023 and 4,600 in 2022), mallards (56,800) and black ducks (21,800) remained similar to their respective 5-year averages (53,920, and 24,580). Despite the generally mild winter, a mid-December cold snap across the country likely led to more diving ducks (190,300) being observed on the Chesapeake and tributaries than in the 2022 survey (79,400).

Biologists counted 320,800 Canada geese in the 2023 survey which was similar to the 361,100 counted in 2022. The 2023 count was likely negatively affected by the warm early January weather, which allowed many wintering geese to roost and feed further inland away from survey routes. Positive reports from many goose hunters appear to confirm this theory.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually since the early 1960s – except 2021 – and covers most of the tidal shorelines and near-shore waterfowl habitat in Maryland. The 2021 Mid-Winter Survey was not flown due to human health concerns related to COVID-19.

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results 2018-2023*

(figures rounded to the nearest hundred)

Species	2018	2019	2020	2022	2023
Mallard	64,300	39,000	56,000	53,500	56,800
Black Duck	38,300	17,200	21,000	24,600	21,800
Gadwall	3,100	4,800	10,800	6,800	3,400
Widgeon	700	1,200	1,100	300	1,900
Green-winged Teal	500	1,500	2,000	6,900	6,200
Shoveler	0	100	300	900	200
Pintail	1,100	600	1,800	4,600	3,300
Total Dabblers	108,000	64,400	93,000	97,600	93,600
Redhead	27,500	20,600	10,600	7,000	12,800
Canvasback	60,000	46,000	46,900	7,700	57,800
Scaup	45,300	72,100	59,000	29,500	74,000
Ring-necked Duck	300	1,100	3,000	2,100	6,200
Goldeneye	100	100	300	100	400
Bufflehead	29,500	13,200	11,400	10,600	16,800
Ruddy Duck	24,500	28,900	18,500	22,400	22,300
Total Divers	187,200	182,000	149,700	79,400	190,300
Scoters	4,500	27,800	5,700	1,300	3,400
Long-tailed Duck	0	300	200	100	100
Mergansers	2,300	2,000	2,300	1,400	1,700
Total Ducks	302,000	276,500	250,900	179,800	289,100
Brant	400	900	900	200	400
Snow Goose	63,500	34,700	40,900	13,600	12,500
Canada Goose	641,000	250,200	327,200	361,100	320,800
Tundra Swan	16,400	4,000	7,100	7,400	7,300
Total Waterfowl	1,023,300	566,300	627,000	563,800	632,200

*Survey not conducted in 2021

Licenses, stamps, and permits may be purchased online by phone at 855-855-3906, at a Maryland DNR Service Center or at any one of the more than 250 Sport License Agents statewide.

Hunters with questions may contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service at 410-260-8540.

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Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces Midwinter Waterfowl Survey 2023 Results