{"id":30075,"date":"2020-02-06T09:56:59","date_gmt":"2020-02-06T14:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=30075"},"modified":"2020-02-06T10:03:35","modified_gmt":"2020-02-06T15:03:35","slug":"midwinter-waterfowl-survey-shows-rise-in-bird-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2020\/02\/06\/midwinter-waterfowl-survey-shows-rise-in-bird-count\/","title":{"rendered":"Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Rise in Bird Count"},"content":{"rendered":"

Annual Survey Estimates Number of Wintering Duck, Geese, and Swans<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo by Orietta Estrada<\/p><\/div>\n

In<\/span> early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the<\/span> Maryland Department of Natural Resources<\/span><\/a> made visual estimates of the ducks, geese, and swans along most of the state\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto. \u201cModerate winter weather up and down the east coast has allowed most waterfowl species to remain spread out across Maryland and our surrounding states.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, the number of dabbling ducks was higher (93,000) than last winter (64,400).\u00a0 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\u2019s record low hatch, Atlantic Population Canada geese benefited from normal spring weather conditions on their nesting grounds in 2019, leading to average gosling production.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results 2016-2020
\n<\/b>Rounded to the nearest hundred<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Species<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2016<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2017<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2018<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2019<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2020<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Mallard<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

41,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

45,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

64,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

39,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

56,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Black Duck<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

38,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Gadwall<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Widgeon<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Green-winged Teal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Northern Shoveler<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Northern Pintail<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total Dabblers<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

69,800<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

87,900<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

108,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

64,400<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

93,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Redhead<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17,900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20,700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20,600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Canvasback<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

75,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

60,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46,900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Scaup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

91,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

138,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

45,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

72,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

59,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ring-necked Duck<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goldeneye<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Bufflehead<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26,700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12,900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

29,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11,400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ruddy Duck<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

88,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

28,900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

18,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total Divers<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

246,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

283,600<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

187,200<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

182,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

149,700<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Scoters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4,900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5,700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Long-tailed Duck<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Mergansers<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total Ducks<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

324,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

381,200<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

302,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

276,500<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

250,900<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Brant<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Snow Goose<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

32,600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

63,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

34,700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

40,900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Canada Goose<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

293,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

394,700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

641,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

250,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

327,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tundra Swan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11,200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16,400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total Waterfowl<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

663,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

812,600<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,023,300<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

566,300<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

627,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Annual Survey Estimates Number of Wintering Duck, Geese, and Swans 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\u2019s Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about  Read the Rest…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[957,13],"tags":[3094,3103,3097,3030],"class_list":["post-30075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-appnews","category-wildlife","tag-ducks","tag-geese","tag-midwinter-waterfowl-survey","tag-waterfowl"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30075"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30089,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30075\/revisions\/30089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}