Waterfowl breeding population survey for northern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia and the Northwest Territories (Mackenzie District)

              2001
NORTHERN ALBERTA,
NORTHEASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA
AND THE
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
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.
Fort McMurray
Hay River
Yellowknife
Inuvik
Great Slave Lake
Great Bear Lake
15
14
16
17
77
13
20
18
TITLE: Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey for Northern
Alberta, Northeastern British Columbia, and the
Northwest Territories (Mackenzie District)
STRATA SURVEYED: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 77
DATE: May 25 to June 17, 2001
DATA SUPPLIED: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Carl Ferguson, Flyway Biologist
Pat Corr, Wildlife Biologist
ABSTRACT:
Spring breeding habitat conditions for waterfowl in the survey unit, overall, were very good. The
exceptions were very dry conditions in the southern portion of the unit, the Slave Lake, Peace
River, and Fort McMurray areas and the late spring ice-out conditions east of Inuvik in the
Northwest Territories. Above average winter precipitation and temperatures prevailed in most of
the Northwest Territories surveyed area. Winter precipitation and temperatures were well below
normal in the southernmost portion of the survey unit. Water levels in the Athabasca Delta
wetlands remain low with the absence of spring flooding in 2001.
Overall, ducks were down 19.8 percent from 2000; dabblers were down 24.0 percent, and divers
were down 17.6 percent, and miscellaneous species were down 11.8 percent. Of notable mention
for the dabblers, mallards were down -38.3 percent, American wigeon were down -1.6 percent,
green-winged teal were down -29.7 percent, northern shoveler were down -31.1 percent, and
northern pintail were down -19.3 percent. For the divers, redhead were down -64.6 percent,
canvasback were down -43.3 percent, scaup were down -12.0 percent, ring-necked duck were
down -50.1 percent, goldeneye were down -46.5 percent, and bufflehead were up +27.8 percent.
For miscellaneous species, oldsquaw were up +19.0 percent, scoters were down -3.3 percent, and
mergansers were down -47.6 percent.
METHODS:
This survey was conducted using procedures found in the Standard Operating Procedures for
Aerial Breeding Ground and Habitat Survey, Section IV (A); revised 1977. An upgraded data
recording system was used again for the fourth year. This involves both the pilot/observer and the
observer recording data into two Toshiba Satellite Pro 40 CDX laptop computers mounted the
aircraft. GPS location “hits” were fixed to all waterfowl observed and identified. This was the
second year for the observer, a retired waterfowl biologist for the Maine Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife. The pilot/observer has surveyed 17 years in this crew survey unit either as
an observer or as a pilot/observer.
Transect flights in stratum 13 through stratum 77 were flown in N783, a Cessna 206 amphibian.
The survey was initiated out of Edmonton, Alberta , beginning just north of Lesser Slave Lake on
May 27, and was completed on June 17 at Norman Wells, Northwest Territories. The survey
involved approximately 120 flight hours. Survey dates for individual stratum are as follows:
stratum 77, May 27 - June 5; stratum 20, June 4; stratum 18, June 7 - June 11; stratum 17, June 5
- June 10; stratum 16, June 8; stratum 15, June 7 - June 11; stratum 14, June 12 - June 17; and
stratum 13, June 13 - June 16. Six segments in stratum 14 were not flown due to mechanical
problems with the aircraft.
HABITAT CONDITIONS:
Northern Alberta and Northeastern British Columbia
A lack of winter precipitation and high than average temperature resulted in extremely dry
conditions in the Slave Lake, Peace River, and Fort McMurray areas. One of the largest forest
fires in Alberta history was burning just south of Slave Lake when we arrived in the survey unit.
On the two southernmost transects, most of the shallow drainage basins and wetlands were dried
up. Beaver flowages were very reduced in acreage. Larger, more permanent lakes were the only
potential nesting habitat available for waterfowl. These dry conditions persisted to about 100
miles south of High Level, Alberta. From there to the Northwest Territorial borders, wetland
conditions improved as this area received much more normal winter precipitation than the area to
the south. This area received some precipitation during late May and early June, but it was too
little and too late to benefit nesting waterfowl.
Athabasca Delta
During the survey period, the Delta had very low water levels this spring due to an absence of
spring flooding. Many of the shallow lakes had sedges and grasses growing with reduced habitat
for breeding waterfowl. Lake Baril was the lowest that I have seen in fifteen years at this time of
year. Willows continue to encroach on the wetlands in the Delta, reducing the amount of habitat
available for waterfowl. A large grass/brush fire was burning just east of Lake Claire during the
survey period.
Northwest Territories (Mackenzie District)
Above average amount winter precipitation resulted in idea nesting habitat conditions for
waterfowl in practically all of the survey portion of the Territories. All shallow wetlands and
drainage basins observed were full. Habitat-wise, this is probably as good as it gets in the
northern portion of the survey unit. One drawback was the wet and cool spring weather in April
and May which may lead to reduce production from early nesting waterfowl species. Spring and
the subsequent ice-out arrived late in the Inuvik and area to the east.
SUMMARY:
Habitat conditions for breeding waterfowl were overall the best in several years. Drought
conditions persisted in the southernmost area of the unit and spring was delayed in the extreme
northeastern portion of the unit.
BREEDING POPULATION ESTIMATES:
The status of waterfowl breeding population estimates by species and stratum with comparisons
to the previous year, ten-year mean, and long-term mean are presented in Table 1. The long-term
trend in adjusted waterfowl breeding population estimates is presented in Appendix 1. Population
indices graphs for individual waterfowl species on an annual basis are presented in Figure 1.
Total ducks for 2001 indicated a -19.8 percent decrease from 2000, a -10.5 percent decrease from
the ten-year mean, and a -35.2 percent decrease from the long-term mean.
Dabbler population estimates decrease -24.0 percent from 2000, decreased -7.8 percent from the
ten-year mean, and decreased -27.5 percent from the long-term mean. Blue-winged teal was the
only dabbler species showing an increased population estimate (+53.8 percent) from last year. The
remainder of the dabblers dropped sharply, including mallard, down - 38.3; green-winged teal,
down -29.7; and northern pintail, down -19.3 percent.
The breeding population estimate for divers decreased - 17.4 percent from 2000, decreased - 17.6
percent from the ten-year mean, and decreased - 38.8 percent from the long-term mean. All diver
species were down sharply from last year.
For miscellaneous species, oldsquaw breeding population estimates were up +19.0 percent from
2000, but still down -21.0 percent from the ten-year mean, and down -77.1 percent from the long -
term mean.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Overall this survey unit had the best breeding habitat conditions that I have seen in several
years. Habitat conditions were rated very good for most of the Northwest Territories (Mackenzie
District) portion of the survey unit. The exceptions were the area around Inuvik and to the east,
which experienced a late ice-out during the spring, the southern portion of the survey unit in
northern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia was extremely dry with virtually no water in
shallow wetlands and drainage basins. The number and size of wetlands created by beaver
flowages was also drastically reduced. This area was rated as poor.
2. Waterfowl breeding pairs decreased from 2000 in this survey unit for practically all species of
dabblers and divers. The exceptions were blue-winged teal, oldsquaw, and bufflehead.
3. Production this year will be lower than 2000 for dabblers and divers because fewer adult
breeding pairs were present this spring and also cool and wet spring weather conditions persisted
in the Northwest Territories. This will adversely affect the early waterfowl nesting species.
Submitted by: Carl Ferguson, Flyway Biologist July 23, 2001
Table 1. Status of waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands, adjusted for visibility bias) by species and stratum with comparisons against the previous year,
the previous 10-year mean, and the long-term mean for Northern Alberta, Northeastern British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.
Stratum % Change From
Species/Ponds 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 77 2001
Total
2000
Total
10-Year
Mean
Long-
Term
Mean
2000 10-Year
Mean
Long-
Term
Mean
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 37.6 102.3 80.7 23.5 58.6 21.4 42.8 108.8 475.7 771.2 647.2 811.2 -38.3% -26.5% -41.4%
Am. black duck 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 -- -- -100.0%
Gadwall 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.7 0.0 3.1 13.2 24.5 42.7 42.0 19.4 -42.6% -41.6% 26.6%
Am. wigeon 96.2 249.7 23.2 30.4 101.0 37.8 35.2 92.9 666.4 677.5 669.3 818.1 -1.6% -0.4% -18.5%
Am. green-winged teal 25.8 14.9 80.6 19.2 134.8 6.8 17.8 371.0 671.0 954.8 565.4 640.7 -29.7% 18.7% 4.7%
Blue-winged teal 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.4 0.0 6.4 22.4 43.2 28.1 98.9 149.2 53.8% -56.3% -71.0%
N. shoveler 16.3 5.0 0.0 0.0 19.5 6.1 19.8 36.1 102.7 148.9 145.7 164.2 -31.1% -29.5% -37.5%
N. pintail 19.7 44.9 32.3 3.3 24.7 4.6 7.7 31.8 169.1 209.5 165.1 364.3 -19.3% 2.4% -53.6%
Subtotal 198.0 416.8 216.8 76.3 358.7 76.7 132.9 676.3 2152.5 2832.6 2333.5 2967.2 -24.0% -7.8% -27.5%
Divers
Redhead 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4 0.0 1.8 0.0 6.2 7.8 17.5 17.8 -20.3% -64.6% -65.2%
Canvasback 7.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.6 2.3 18.2 0.0 37.9 72.9 66.8 51.9 -48.0% -43.3% -27.1%
Scaups 66.2 494.6 185.1 149.9 191.6 99.5 0.7 79.1 1266.9 1440.0 1629.0 2500.0 -12.0% -22.2% -49.3%
Ring-necked duck 12.1 35.4 5.6 7.4 48.6 10.5 10.2 95.1 224.9 450.3 216.5 141.3 -50.1% 3.9% 59.1%
Goldeneyes 7.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.7 3.1 6.3 5.9 30.0 56.1 45.9 93.6 -46.5% -34.7% -67.9%
Bufflehead 1.8 2.1 14.5 24.3 98.1 36.5 2.3 138.3 317.9 248.8 290.7 264.7 27.8% 9.4% 20.1%
Ruddy Duck 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 4.8 8.8 14.7 30.0 22.6 -40.1% -70.6% -60.9%
Subtotal 98.9 532.1 205.2 181.6 356.1 151.9 43.4 323.2 1892.5 2290.5 2296.4 3092.0 -17.4% -17.6% -38.8%
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 30.3 9.3 12.2 5.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 57.3 48.2 72.6 250.6 19.0% -21.0% -77.1%
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 -- -- -100.0%
Scoters 15.9 352.1 50.8 68.2 25.9 5.0 0.0 13.2 531.1 549.0 500.6 907.0 -3.3% 6.1% -41.4%
Mergansers 2.4 42.0 0.0 20.2 12.4 0.0 5.1 8.3 90.4 172.5 77.6 73.7 -47.6% 16.5% 22.8%
Subtotal 18.3 424.4 60.1 100.6 43.9 5.0 5.1 21.5 678.9 769.6 650.8 1232.0 -11.8% 4.3% -44.9%
Total Ducks 315.2 1373.3 482.0 358.6 758.7 233.6 181.4 1021.1 4723.9 5892.7 5280.7 7291.2 -19.8% -10.5% -35.2%
Canada Goose 0.8 32.9 49.2 11.9 21.9 0.0 22.7 25.6 165.0 115.9 132.9 147.6 42.3% 24.1% 11.8%
Am. coot 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 0.0 18.2 17.9 38.3 67.0 35.8 52.4 -42.8% 7.1% -26.8%
Appendix 1. Long-term trend in adjusted waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands) for Northern Alberta, Northeastern
British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.
Species/Ponds 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 1299.6 1148.0 816.6 1019.1 2016.3 687.2 1862.4 1102.5 1027.7 1171.1
Am. black duck 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.0 3.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gadwall 0.6 0.0 1.6 0.6 0.3 0.0 1.3 9.1 0.0 2.5
Am. wigeon 1331.7 1102.1 1105.7 724.4 1828.5 1540.0 1586.6 819.6 788.4 1185.4
Am. green-winged teal 878.0 675.0 529.0 643.6 1726.9 851.5 1067.8 387.3 874.8 1062.1
Blue-winged teal 204.0 159.2 25.5 107.5 360.3 355.7 385.9 162.9 34.1 365.2
N. shoveler 256.4 162.1 94.0 170.1 537.7 193.3 389.7 187.2 76.9 473.7
N. pintail 1078.4 608.1 543.8 920.6 2426.1 685.8 1226.7 441.3 298.0 445.1
Subtotal 5049.2 3855.1 3116.2 3585.9 8899.9 4313.4 6520.2 3109.9 3099.9 4705.1
Divers
Redhead 31.9 27.5 19.6 11.5 46.8 23.8 35.2 56.0 12.9 44.6
Canvasback 45.4 18.4 15.1 63.2 70.7 56.8 37.0 27.8 91.7 69.2
Scaups 2423.2 2297.7 2300.5 2020.8 3629.0 2347.7 2724.1 2620.7 2919.7 2572.7
Ring-necked duck 189.9 200.6 114.1 91.3 393.4 164.5 69.3 122.9 112.5 137.1
Goldeneyes 202.8 93.6 88.5 142.2 492.6 122.8 264.6 230.1 32.2 127.1
Bufflehead 156.1 173.7 152.4 132.2 238.8 209.7 160.7 209.2 151.9 233.9
Ruddy Duck 19.6 15.1 6.9 8.7 44.7 23.5 17.5 1.2 22.2 2.1
Subtotal 3068.9 2826.6 2697.1 2470.1 4916.1 2948.9 3308.3 3267.9 3343.3 3186.8
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 450.0 347.8 380.1 451.6 607.7 367.3 432.4 278.7 163.4 522.2
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 1416.2 1219.3 1322.7 1043.0 1602.3 1606.7 1252.5 721.9 759.8 1290.2
Mergansers 101.0 52.5 74.8 127.2 95.3 137.4 131.6 53.2 94.5 82.5
Subtotal 1967.3 1619.5 1777.6 1621.8 2305.3 2111.4 1816.5 1053.8 1017.7 1894.9
Total Ducks 10085.4 8301.2 7590.9 7677.8 16121.3 9373.7 11645.0 7431.7 7460.8 9786.9
Canada Goose 361.6 414.0 148.6 285.5 502.8 264.6 131.3 90.7 232.5 17.7
Am. coot 28.2 3.0 0.0 0.0 156.8 3.9 38.8 19.2 8.7 7.5
Species/Ponds 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 589.9 675.9 604.6 730.0 530.8 753.1 807.6 1132.1 696.4 575.4
Am. black duck 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gadwall 6.1 1.9 6.7 0.3 0.3 14.3 1.3 10.7 8.6 0.9
Am. wigeon 909.0 888.2 456.1 384.6 578.6 850.7 766.1 851.9 912.5 492.0
Am. green-winged teal 649.9 800.5 457.8 492.7 204.7 358.4 429.8 569.3 535.4 242.2
Blue-winged teal 173.3 52.1 9.6 5.3 14.7 21.0 33.0 81.8 10.0 31.7
N. shoveler 165.5 180.8 113.0 101.6 42.4 57.7 108.5 157.3 142.2 72.5
N. pintail 392.4 190.1 105.4 197.1 74.8 100.0 85.4 426.3 351.0 227.3
Subtotal 2886.1 2789.5 1753.2 1911.6 1446.3 2155.2 2231.7 3229.5 2656.1 1642.1
Divers
Redhead 6.8 5.0 18.6 9.5 5.3 8.3 6.1 10.3 5.6 2.9
Canvasback 44.6 120.5 21.0 93.0 61.6 30.4 40.5 16.8 21.0 10.4
Scaups 2607.5 2490.3 2741.4 1970.3 2523.7 2719.4 2934.8 5090.7 3328.3 2795.1
Ring-necked duck 225.5 159.6 133.7 94.3 54.9 108.4 105.9 59.7 106.9 42.2
Goldeneyes 119.3 34.7 60.3 24.3 35.0 17.6 30.7 33.3 39.3 36.2
Bufflehead 191.9 241.5 182.2 212.9 277.7 230.1 354.0 291.2 236.8 277.7
Ruddy Duck 2.1 17.5 11.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 2.5 15.2 15.0 6.7
Subtotal 3197.8 3069.1 3168.2 2404.8 2959.2 3115.9 3474.5 5517.2 3752.9 3171.2
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 320.8 460.2 402.3 165.1 460.3 283.3 224.6 105.7 181.4 218.8
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 965.9 611.8 712.7 606.7 855.5 1172.6 640.6 1093.5 905.4 1098.0
Mergansers 96.9 52.5 48.4 14.3 30.2 44.9 16.1 29.2 32.1 21.1
Subtotal 1383.6 1124.5 1163.4 786.1 1346.0 1500.9 881.3 1228.4 1118.8 1338.0
Total Ducks 7467.5 6983.1 6084.8 5102.6 5751.5 6772.1 6587.5 9975.1 7527.9 6151.2
Canada Goose 68.7 152.7 134.4 70.4 85.3 131.5 122.4 111.8 64.4 38.3
Am. coot 3.4 35.5 1.0 43.7 9.8 4.0 3.2 6.8 27.0 29.7
Appendix 1 (continued). Long-term trend in adjusted waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands) for Northern Alberta,
Northeastern British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.
Species/Ponds 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 731.9 314.7 770.4 739.4 794.9 896.2 719.2 534.1 928.4 482.6
Am. black duck 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gadwall 0.0 5.2 17.6 10.2 32.3 43.8 52.5 51.0 2.5 23.1
Am. wigeon 650.3 538.8 846.7 993.4 729.6 992.2 916.0 589.3 556.3 1187.1
Am. green-winged teal 468.3 225.6 370.6 678.7 582.6 585.6 626.2 692.4 842.9 468.5
Blue-winged teal 55.9 111.7 474.5 213.6 187.2 367.8 283.9 159.3 107.5 92.9
N. shoveler 116.3 81.9 256.2 64.4 79.7 207.4 204.5 77.9 74.5 140.9
N. pintail 381.6 246.5 532.6 244.2 196.2 289.6 314.5 103.7 392.0 399.6
Subtotal 2404.3 1524.6 3268.6 2944.0 2602.5 3382.7 3116.8 2207.6 2904.1 2794.7
Divers
Redhead 2.4 3.1 23.4 20.2 12.4 28.7 18.4 7.2 9.9 33.8
Canvasback 32.0 37.6 48.1 29.9 28.3 59.6 113.3 48.7 55.3 51.6
Scaups 3215.2 2529.6 2900.0 2676.5 3166.2 3063.0 3028.7 2516.7 3230.8 3667.5
Ring-necked duck 73.3 61.9 179.8 153.5 90.3 101.7 94.6 61.2 101.1 89.1
Goldeneyes 33.6 47.5 74.5 112.2 169.7 184.0 108.2 74.1 69.5 298.8
Bufflehead 294.8 267.0 258.7 278.8 328.0 293.9 244.1 185.1 406.3 442.9
Ruddy Duck 4.0 1.6 26.8 8.3 7.8 19.0 28.8 23.0 118.2 51.7
Subtotal 3655.3 2948.2 3511.3 3279.4 3802.8 3750.0 3636.0 2916.1 3991.2 4635.3
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 196.2 176.1 193.7 180.1 626.4 322.0 171.8 193.7 113.0 601.3
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.2 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 769.7 725.0 922.2 1202.6 1400.9 1101.8 1024.9 846.6 1077.6 1295.4
Mergansers 33.6 83.6 126.1 165.3 121.1 136.2 50.3 58.7 70.3 104.6
Subtotal 999.4 984.6 1242.0 1548.0 2151.7 1560.0 1247.0 1102.0 1260.8 2001.2
Total Ducks 7059.0 5457.5 8021.8 7771.3 8557.0 8692.7 7999.8 6225.7 8156.2 9431.2
Canada Goose 89.4 57.8 45.2 61.8 69.7 58.7 131.4 77.1 172.5 67.8
Am. coot 11.8 0.0 295.1 59.8 5.1 337.0 128.9 54.8 133.9 47.1
Species/Ponds 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 632.2 1194.9 705.4 1006.8 581.6 565.9 536.0 501.4 595.1 350.5
Am. black duck 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gadwall 13.7 48.9 13.0 18.3 28.1 44.1 49.9 58.0 48.8 42.6
Am. wigeon 692.2 469.7 832.3 818.5 598.6 426.7 687.4 580.9 652.1 382.2
Am. green-winged teal 615.6 765.6 991.9 882.9 905.7 677.1 396.1 485.0 488.4 575.5
Blue-winged teal 118.4 382.2 250.6 370.5 76.3 29.2 79.9 156.6 205.0 99.1
N. shoveler 108.9 204.8 210.2 239.5 184.6 160.6 160.9 184.1 216.5 101.7
N. pintail 276.3 175.7 218.9 188.2 178.2 146.6 218.3 266.7 226.0 92.3
Subtotal 2457.3 3241.8 3222.4 3524.7 2553.0 2050.1 2128.4 2232.7 2431.9 1643.9
Divers
Redhead 9.8 30.6 4.9 15.7 20.1 16.0 40.0 10.6 40.8 7.9
Canvasback 14.1 47.1 27.8 61.5 81.1 30.0 74.5 46.8 68.9 27.0
Scaups 2375.4 2315.4 2518.1 2267.3 2339.3 1843.2 1936.5 1658.2 1701.9 1845.7
Ring-necked duck 80.5 64.8 90.9 164.2 127.5 114.8 113.7 106.9 184.2 136.8
Goldeneyes 93.9 149.2 42.2 53.3 76.6 30.8 39.8 44.1 51.0 96.9
Bufflehead 249.1 318.2 386.2 370.5 358.6 272.7 264.3 208.5 247.6 310.7
Ruddy Duck 16.2 92.9 8.6 17.8 44.5 34.7 38.4 43.5 59.6 7.7
Subtotal 2839.0 3018.2 3078.8 2950.2 3047.7 2342.3 2507.1 2118.6 2353.8 2432.7
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 267.7 113.7 270.2 231.1 279.3 43.6 76.3 47.0 64.6 79.1
Eiders 16.2 2.9 0.0 2.0 4.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 1045.4 909.0 1188.9 748.6 1129.0 432.7 647.4 549.1 633.8 372.6
Mergansers 69.9 31.9 64.2 40.9 67.9 52.2 42.3 119.9 61.8 106.7
Subtotal 1399.3 1057.5 1523.3 1022.6 1480.8 528.5 765.9 716.0 760.2 558.4
Total Ducks 6695.5 7317.5 7824.4 7497.6 7081.4 4920.9 5401.5 5067.3 5545.9 4634.9
Canada Goose 172.8 163.9 326.5 261.6 154.0 120.2 161.4 144.5 174.9 93.0
Am. coot 47.8 32.0 70.1 227.8 131.7 38.4 70.9 51.0 29.9 10.7
Appendix 1 (continued). Long-term trend in adjusted waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands) for Northern Alberta,
Northeastern British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.
Species/Ponds 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 576.5 295.1 773.7 671.8 1400.3 771.2 475.7
Am. black duck 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gadwall 34.3 9.6 24.4 39.9 69.9 42.7 24.5
Am. wigeon 694.8 394.0 983.7 687.2 952.8 677.5 666.4
Am. green-winged teal 605.5 281.7 440.2 616.4 810.4 954.8 671.0
Blue-winged teal 90.0 30.9 86.8 156.6 56.2 28.1 43.2
N. shoveler 65.0 41.7 90.9 306.9 140.6 148.9 102.7
N. pintail 88.4 38.3 175.1 173.1 162.9 209.5 169.1
Subtotal 2154.5 1091.3 2574.8 2651.9 3593.0 2832.6 2152.5
Divers
Redhead 6.6 5.5 26.7 17.4 11.9 7.8 6.2
Canvasback 109.6 45.6 66.7 39.1 116.9 72.9 37.9
Scaups 1657.9 1294.4 1473.4 1355.4 1926.6 1440.0 1266.9
Ring-necked duck 125.1 99.3 359.5 285.4 303.9 450.3 224.9
Goldeneyes 31.0 22.9 17.5 55.7 44.2 56.1 30.0
Bufflehead 323.1 235.1 387.9 269.9 410.9 248.8 317.9
Ruddy Duck 15.2 10.4 24.0 16.1 70.5 14.7 8.8
Subtotal 2268.5 1713.2 2355.6 2038.8 2885.0 2290.5 1892.5
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 93.7 47.1 107.7 50.5 111.6 48.2 57.3
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 407.2 359.9 679.0 282.9 525.2 549.0 531.1
Mergansers 59.5 30.6 49.1 47.3 86.7 172.5 90.4
Subtotal 560.4 437.6 835.8 380.6 723.6 769.6 678.9
Total Ducks 4983.4 3242.0 5766.1 5071.4 7201.6 5892.7 4723.9
Canada Goose 162.4 151.8 79.1 82.2 163.8 115.9 165.0
Am. coot 5.6 3.6 10.6 91.7 17.1 67.0 38.3
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Mergansers
Population
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
130000
140000
150000
160000
170000
180000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Mallard
Population
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
1300000
1400000
1500000
1600000
1700000
1800000
1900000
2000000
2100000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 American black duck
Population
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Gadwall
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 American wigeon
Population
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
1300000
1400000
1500000
1600000
1700000
1800000
1900000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 American green-winged teal
Population
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
1300000
1400000
1500000
1600000
1700000
1800000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Blue-winged teal
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Northern shoveler
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Northern pintail
Population
0
1000000
2000000
3000000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Redhead
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Canvasback
Population
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
130000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Scaups
Population
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
5000000
6000000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Ring-necked duck
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Goldeneyes
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Bufflehead
Population
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Oldsquaw
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Common Eider
Population
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
16000
17000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Scoters
Population
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
1300000
1400000
1500000
1600000
1700000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Ruddy Duck
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Canada Goose
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 American coot
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Dabblers
Population
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
5000000
6000000
7000000
8000000
9000000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Divers
Population
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
5000000
6000000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Miscellaneous
Population
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
1300000
1400000
1500000
1600000
1700000
1800000
1900000
2000000
2100000
2200000
2300000
2400000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 13-18, 20, 77 Total Ducks
Population
3000000
4000000
5000000
6000000
7000000
8000000
9000000
10000000
11000000
12000000
13000000
14000000
15000000
16000000
17000000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010