{"id":35697,"date":"2022-02-28T13:03:10","date_gmt":"2022-02-28T18:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=35697"},"modified":"2022-02-28T13:07:22","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T18:07:22","slug":"midwinter-waterfowl-survey-2022-results-released","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2022\/02\/28\/midwinter-waterfowl-survey-2022-results-released\/","title":{"rendered":"Midwinter Waterfowl Survey 2022 Results Released"},"content":{"rendered":"

Annual Survey Estimates Number of Winter Ducks, Geese, and Swans<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources<\/p><\/div>\n

In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the <\/span>Maryland Department of Natural Resources<\/span><\/a> (DNR) made visual estimates of the ducks, geese and swans along most of the state\u2019s Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River. and Atlantic Ocean coastal shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 563,800 waterfowl, lower than the 627,000 birds observed in 2020, and below the most recent five-year average of 718,600 birds. The 2021 Mid-Winter Survey was not flown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWinter distribution of waterfowl is influenced by many factors,\u201d Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto said. \u201cGlobal weather patterns, food availability, habitat quality, prevalence of ice, and the population status of each species all play a role in how many birds we count and where we count them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, dabbling ducks increased in number this year compared to 2020, as did pintails and green-winged teal, which likely reflected the mild fall temperatures. Likewise, generally mild winter weather likely led to fewer diving ducks being observed than in the 2020 survey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hunter reports suggest that late arriving winter weather moved more scaup, canvasbacks, and redheads into the Chesapeake Bay region after the survey was completed. Biologists counted more Canada geese \u2013 361,100 \u2013 than the 2020 survey, which counted 327,200. DNR considers this a hopeful sign that flyway wide harvest restrictions for Atlantic Population (AP) geese are working.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually since the early 1960s, and covers most of the tidal shorelines and near-shore waterfowl habitat in Maryland. These numbers are not population estimates, but offer an annual \u201csnapshot\u201d view of how waterfowl use of important nearshore habitats changes over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results 2017-2022 (no survey conducted in 2021)<\/b><\/p>\n

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

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

\n

2022<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Mallard<\/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

\n

53,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Black Duck<\/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

\n

24,600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Gadwall<\/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

\n

6,800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Widgeon<\/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

\n

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

\n

Green-winged Teal<\/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

\n

6,900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Shoveler<\/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

\n

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

\n

Pintail<\/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

\n

4,600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total Dabblers<\/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

\n

97,600<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Redhead<\/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

\n

7,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Canvasback<\/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

\n

7,700<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Scaup<\/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

\n

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

\n

Ring-necked Duck<\/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

\n

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

\n

Goldeneye<\/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

\n

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

\n

Bufflehead<\/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

\n

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

\n

Ruddy Duck<\/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

\n

22,400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total Divers<\/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

\n

79,400<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Scoters<\/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

\n

1,300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Long-tailed Duck<\/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

\n

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

\n

Mergansers<\/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

\n

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

\n

Total Ducks<\/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

\n

179,800<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Brant<\/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

\n

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

\n

Snow Goose<\/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

\n

13,600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Canada Goose<\/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

\n

361,100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tundra Swan<\/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

\n

7,400<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total Waterfowl<\/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

\n

563,800<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Licenses, stamps, and permits may be purchased\u00a0<\/span>online<\/span><\/a>\u00a0by phone at 855-855-3906, at a\u00a0<\/span>Natural Resources Service Center<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or at any one of the more than\u00a0<\/span>250 Sport License Agents<\/span><\/a>\u00a0statewide.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hunters with questions may contact the Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service at 410-260-8540.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Annual Survey Estimates Number of Winter Ducks, Geese, and Swans 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\u2019s Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River. and Atlantic Ocean coastal shorelines. This year, the teams  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":[3094,3103,3097,5129],"class_list":["post-35697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-appnews","category-wildlife","tag-ducks","tag-geese","tag-midwinter-waterfowl-survey","tag-winter"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35697","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=35697"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35701,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35697\/revisions\/35701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}