CENTRAL QUEBEC
Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey
2001
The data presented in this report are preliminary. Final estimates are available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Office of Migratory Bird Management, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland 20708-4016.
69
68
Val-Dor Roberval
Chibougamau
Radisson
Wabush
2001 Waterfowl Breeding Pair Population Survey Central and Northern Quebec
May 2001
Strata Surveyed 68 & 69
Survey Conducted and Data Supplied by
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Aerial Crews
Pilot/Observer James S. Wortham, USFWS
Observer Marcelle Francke, USFWS
Abstract
Initiated in conjunction with the Black Duck Joint Venture (NAWMP), 2001 marks the
second year that Strata 68 & 69 will be included in the operational Aerial Waterfowl
Breeding Ground Population and Habitat Survey in North America. Due to recent
changes in the survey design, and lack of historical data, direct comparisons of these
estimates to previous years are complex and are discouraged. However, as compared to
2000, data does indicate significant increases (161.0 %) in nesting black ducks across the
region, increases (27.7 %) in mallard numbers, and a 78.3 % increase in numbers of
Canada geese.
Methods
The procedures followed in conducting this survey are detailed in the Standard
Operating Procedures for Aerial Waterfowl Breeding Ground Population and Habitat
Survey, Section III, revised April 1987, April 2000. The pilot/observer and observer
were experienced in surveying these strata and have flown these areas three and two
years respectively. In 1997, the northern portions of Stratum 68 were separated and
expanded to form Stratum 69. However, these areas were not flown during the 1997
survey season due to forest fires. Stratum 69 was again expanded in 2000, and survey
transects were added increasing the overall sampling effort within this stratum.
A Cessna U206F fixed-wing aircraft equipped with amphibious floats was used
for the survey. Visibility corrections were obtained using pooled data from an ongoing
helicopter visibility bias correction study being conducted in eastern Canada. Calculated
correction factors are applied across the eastern survey area, and 2001 marks the eighth
crew to be assessed.
Beginning in 1998, waterfowl and habitat data were collected using an aerial
onboard digital recording system designed to attribute each waterfowl observation with a
respective location recorded as a latitude/longitude coordinate. Each data point
(observation) is then logged along with the sample details, i.e. strata, transect, and
segment, time, climatic conditions, and location.
Habitat Descriptions
Stratum 68: Stratum 68 lies east of the Ontario border, north of the Ottawa River, west
of the St. Lawrence River, and south of a line extending eastward from the southern tip of
the James Bay. Topography ranges from rolling hills in the southeast to more severe
terrain in the northeast, and gentle slopes and flat areas near the James Bay. This boreal
shield ecosystem is characterized predominately with hardwoods with the only significant
development resulting from timber and mining activities. Wetlands consist of rivers and
smaller drainages, numerous lakes and beaver ponds, timbered rocky marshes, and bogs.
Stratum 69: Stratum 69 lies east of the James and Hudson Bays, south of the 56th
parallel, north of Sept-Isles and the north shore of the St. Lawrence Gulf, and west of
Labrador. Topography in this region of the Nearctic ranges from rolling to severe, and is
characterized by rocky outcroppings. Development consists of reservoirs constructed for
hydroelectric generation, and some mineral and timber extraction. Wetlands consist of
rivers and other drainages, man-made reservoirs, glaciated lakes and beaver ponds, some
vegetated marshes and bogs.
Table 1. Survey design for central Quebec
Survey Design 68 69
Square miles in
stratum
140,307.0 190,213.0
Linear miles in
sample
2,502 1,800
Square miles in
sample
625.5 450.0
Number of
segments in sample
139 100
Expansion Factor 224.31 422.70
Weather and Habitat
During winter 2000/2001 temperatures were normal across Quebec with the
exception of central and southern portions experiencing below normal temperatures from
mid-December through early January. Temperatures in these regions fell once again
from mid-February to early March. Precipitation amounts were normal during the winter
with the exception of the extreme northern portions of the province beginning near Lac
Misstassini receiving above normal amounts of snowfall with portions of the Ungava
peninsula receiving up to 100% above normal. Warming trends arrived early with
northern portions of the province experiencing warmer than normal temperatures from
early March throughout late May. The warming trends began later (mid-April) in the
southern portions, but with equal intensity resulting in spring conditions in the forested
regions of Quebec being ranked in the top ten warmest on record.
The timing of spring conditions were near average or slightly earlier throughout
most of the province. Consequently, the timing of surveys were judged to be near perfect
in both strata. Habitat conditions varied across the province. Generally poor habitat
conditions dominated the area enclosed from just north of Montreal to southwest of
Roberval and the Lac St. Jean region to Val d’Or. Lakes and reservoirs in this area
contain extremely low water levels, and many smaller marshes are dry or retain only
minimal water levels. In addition, there is a notable decrease in availability of beaver
pond habitat this year with many former ponds having been abandoned entirely.
Habitat conditions improved consistently in the central and northern portions of
the province. From Val d’Or to Chibougamau, conditions were slightly dry, but
adequate for nesting and brood rearing. The James Bay lowlands and the shoreline
regions from Moosonee to north of Kuujjuarapik were judged to be excellent with
abundant water, but little flooding. The remainder of the survey area from
Chibougamau/Mistassini area northeast to Schefferville and east to the northern shore of
the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Natasquan was characterized as having good habitat
conditions with sufficient water levels and seasonable conditions.
Weather forecasts for the summer months predict slightly higher than average
temperatures across the province. Central and western portions of Quebec are expected
to receive greater than normal rainfall
Breeding Population Estimates
Although the eastern Canada portions of the survey are this year are included in
the operational North American survey, only limited assumptions can be made about
waterfowl populations at this point. During 2000, survey effort was increased by adding
several transects and expanding the northern boundary of stratum 69. However, 2001
marks only four years of data obtained within this stratum. Several more years of data
will be needed before meaningful comparisons can be made.
Information on population estimates can be seen in the following tables. Notable
outcomes include an increase in black ducks from last year of 67.6 % and 490.2 % for
strata 68 and 69 respectively. This contributed to an overall crew area increase in black
ducks of 161.0 % from 2000 to nearly equal a calculated 5-year mean (1996 – 2000).
Numbers of mallards increased by 36.7 % from last year in stratum 68 augmenting an
overall crew area increase of 27.7 % from 2000 and a 78.6 % increase from the 1996-
2000 mean. Canada geese in stratum 68 increased 608.5 % from 2000, and conversely
decreased 44.0 % within stratum 69. This fluctuation resulted in an overall crew area
increase of 78.3 % from last year and 44.2 % from the 1996-2000 mean.
Table 2. Status of waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands, adjusted for
visibility bias) by species and stratum.
Stratum (2001)
Species/Ponds 68 69 2001 Total
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 56.3 6.0 62.3
Am. black duck 78.6 78.5 157.1
Gadwall 12.3 0.0 12.3
Am. wigeon 5.1 0.0 5.1
Am. green-winged teal 14.2 17.9 32.1
Blue-winged teal 4.6 0.0 4.6
N. shoveler 0.0 0.0 0.0
N. pintail 0.0 4.5 4.5
Subtotal 171.1 106.8 278.0
Divers
Redhead 0.0 0.0 0.0
Canvasback 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scaups 20.9 67.0 87.8
Ring-necked duck 62.1 51.4 113.5
Goldeneyes 272.7 529.8 802.4
Bufflehead 24.8 0.0 24.8
Ruddy Duck 5.3 0.0 5.3
Subtotal 385.7 648.1 1033.8
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 36.2 36.2
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 5.9 161.2 167.1
Mergansers 121.5 133.0 254.6
Subtotal 127.4 330.4 457.8
Total Ducks 684.2 1085.4 1769.6
Canada Goose 293.3 100.4 393.7
Am. coot 2.1 0.0 2.1
Appendix 1. Long-term trend in adjusted waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands).
Species/Ponds 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 51.5 15.9 31.0 27.2 48.8 62.3
Am. black duck 279.6 104.5 169.7 168.2 60.2 157.1
Gadwall 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.6 2.7 12.3
Am. wigeon 0.0 0.0 53.4 40.3 11.4 5.1
Am. green-winged teal 148.4 33.6 74.3 92.6 20.0 32.1
Blue-winged teal 0.0 0.0 0.0 24.3 13.8 4.6
N. shoveler 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.7 0.0
N. pintail 0.0 0.0 1.9 13.5 0.0 4.5
Subtotal 479.5 154.0 330.3 369.7 161.6 278.0
Divers
Redhead 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4 1.4 0.0
Canvasback 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scaups 0.0 0.0 6.4 19.2 85.6 87.8
Ring-necked duck 222.4 163.0 107.3 134.8 277.7 113.5
Goldeneyes 257.6 97.8 539.2 380.4 722.3 802.4
Bufflehead 0.0 0.0 4.5 7.0 18.7 24.8
Ruddy Duck 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 4.0 5.3
Subtotal 480.0 260.9 657.4 544.1 1109.7 1033.8
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 0.0 14.2 55.8 57.3 36.2
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 0.0 85.7 98.1 1.0 165.5 167.1
Mergansers 696.4 113.0 174.4 134.5 232.3 254.6
Subtotal 696.4 198.7 286.7 191.3 455.0 457.8
Total Ducks 1655.9 613.6 1274.4 1105.1 1726.4 1769.6
Canada Goose 432.0 6.2 93.0 613.4 220.8 393.7
Am. coot 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1
Strata 68-69 Mergansers
Population
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Mallard
Population
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 American black duck
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 American green-winged teal
Population
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
130000
140000
150000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Northern pintail
Population
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Scaups
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Ring-necked duck
Population
100000
110000
120000
130000
140000
150000
160000
170000
180000
190000
200000
210000
220000
230000
240000
250000
260000
270000
280000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Goldeneyes
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Bufflehead
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Oldsquaw
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Scoters
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
130000
140000
150000
160000
170000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Canada Goose
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Dabblers
Population
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Divers
Population
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Miscellaneous
Population
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Strata 68-69 Total Ducks
Population
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
1300000
1400000
1500000
1600000
1700000
1800000
Year
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
