Waterfowl breeding population survey for southern Manitoba and the Saskatchewan River delta

              UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
AND
ENVIRONMENT CANADA
CANADIAN WILDLIFE SERVICE
Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey
MAY 2001
Southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan River Delta
Brandon
Pilot Mound
Portage
La Prairie Winnipeg
Dauphin
Gimli
The Pas 25
36
37
39 38
40
TITLE: Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey for Southern Manitoba and
the Saskatchewan River Delta
STRATA SURVEYED: 25, and 36 through 40
DATES: May 8 - 26, 2001
DATA SUPPLIED BY: United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS)
Manitoba Conservation (MC)
Ducks Unlimited, Canada (DUC)
Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation (SWCC)
Aerial Crew:
Pilot/Observer Rod King, Flyway Biologist, USFWS
Observer Herb Bell, Wildlife Biologist USFWS
Ground Crew:
Crew Leaders: Dale Caswell, Wildlife Biologist, CWS
Pat Rakowski, Wildlife Biologist, CWS
Marc Schuster, Wildlife Technician, CWS
Darcy Pisiak, Wildlife Technician, CWS
Martin Van Osch, Wildlife Technician, DUC
Garth Ball, Habitat Biologist, MC (Strata 36-40 only)
Assistants: James Galbraith, Student Technician, CWS
Frank Baldwin, Jr., Student Technician, CWS
Mark Blanchard, Student Technician, CWS
Alain Dupuis, Student Technician, CWS
Dr. George Hochbaum, Wildlife Biologist (Retired), CWS (Strata
36-40 only)
Bob Carles, General Manager, SWCC (Strata 34-35 only)
1
ABSTRACT: The Manitoba Air Crew again collected and reported the data from the
Saskatchewan River Delta in this report. The process simplified the reporting procedure. The
Saskatchewan River Delta has been flown by the Manitoba Air Crew for several years and
therefore seemed logical to eliminate the extra step of transferring the data to the northern
Manitoba crew. All tables have been updated to include long term averages that reflect the
inclusion of this data.
The 2001 survey was conducted from May 8 -26, and was consistent with the designed survey.
Two segments on the eastern edge of Stratum 37 were not flown. These two segments are
insignificant in waterfowl habitat and duck numbers. Delays from weather and the position of the
two segments left after other lines were flown eliminated their significance to be included in the
survey for 2001.
Winter began early for most parts of the survey area with significant amounts of snowfall and
cold temperatures through January. After that time temps and precipitation waned until early
spring. Above average temperatures and above average precipitation in the central part of the
survey area set the stage for a banner year for waterfowl. The high amounts of precipitation
during winter and spring, resulted in 68.7% more ponds than in 2000, 26.9% more than the 10-
year mean, and 14.8% more than the Long-term mean. The 2.04 million estimated ducks is the
highest number since 1982 and the 785.8 thousand ponds is the highest since the Awet@ years of
1995-97 and then not until 1975 were there more ponds counted.
METHODS: Methods used in this survey are described in the Standard Operating Procedures
for Aerial Waterfowl Breeding Ground Population and Habitat Surveys in North America,
Section III, revised in 1987. Waterfowl and habitat data were collected using laptop computers
and transcribed into a program developed by Jack Hodges MBM-AK.
This is the second year that the summary data from Stratum 25 has been included in these survey
results. The MBM-PAS calculated all data from previous Stratum 25 summaries and has been
included in Table 1, Appendix 1, and Figure 1. Pond data summaries from Table 2., remained
unchanged because wetlands are not enumerated in Stratum 25. All transects, segments and
historic air/ground comparisons were flown as outlined in the survey design except as noted
above. The design includes 24 air/ground comparison segments (Stratum 36 - 40). These
air/ground comparisons are Aground truthed@ by the Manitoba crew identified on page 1.
This was the third year that King was Pilot/Observer and the seventh year that Bell has acted as
observer in the Manitoba Stratum.
A Cessna 206 amphibious aircraft (N753) was used for the survey. A total of 25.3 hours were
needed to survey strata 25, and 36-40. There were six days during the survey that the air crew
was unable to fly: three days were lost due to the ground crew being unable to keep up with the
air crew and three days delayed due to inclement weather. Survey data for strata 34-35 were
forwarded to the Saskatchewan air crew.
2
WEATHER AND HABITAT: Data from Canada weather monitoring sources indicate that in
spring 2001 all of the climate regions of Canada had temperatures above normal. The Prairie
Region showed the greatest trend 3.0 degrees C increase over the 54-year period. The Prairie
region was -21.5% below average precipitation which equaled the 13th driest spring in the 54
years. The exceptional dryness in Alberta and western Saskatchewan evidently overshadow the
wetness in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Sections of southern Manitoba recorded total
precipitation for the period November, 2000 through March, 2001 of 155-200% above average.
The lingering wetness in these areas from the previous two years had its toll on agriculture
activities near wetland basins and resulted in many wetland basins being surrounded by residual
vegetation. These conditions should improve nesting habitat for many dabbler species. Diver
species should also, benefit as wetlands move into more permanent water levels and noticeably
more emergent vegetation was present compared to the prior two springs.
BREEDING POPULATION ESTIMATES: The 2001, breeding waterfowl population data are
listed by strata and species in Table 1. Total duck populations for southern Manitoba were
+10.4% higher than 2000, +15.7% above the 10-year mean, but only +0.2% above the long-term
mean. When viewing duck totals for each stratum individually (Table 1.) It is obvious where the
excellent habitat/ponds were at as Stratum 38 (+109.6% higher than 2000) and Stratum 40
(+66.7% higher than 2000). These two stratum held more than one-third of the 2 million ducks in
the survey area, but contain only 22% of the total habitat. Long term duck population estimates
are found in Appendix 1. Dabbling duck populations were +14.4% higher than 2000, +22.7%
higher than the 10-year mean and +1.7% higher than the long term mean. Dabbling ducks make
up 72.7% of all ducks in the survey area. Of this total mallard made up 23% and blue-winged
teal 25.5% of all ducks. Diving ducks were -0.2% lower than 2000, -0.3% lower than the 10-year
mean and -5.9% lower than the long-term mean. Canvasback indicate the largest decrease of -
21.5% of 2000 totals and ruddy duck indicated a +35.6% over 2000. Redhead populations
remained virtually unchanged for 2000, but were +24.8% over the 10-year mean, and +44.1%
higher than the long-term mean. Redhead make up 24% of the total diving duck population for
2001, canvasback 14.3%, and ruddy duck 12.7%. The significant increase in permanent wetlands
is again evident in Stratum 40. Although this stratum contains only 9.8% of the total survey area
habitat it boasted almost 30% of the redheads, more than 30% of the canvasbacks and 1/3 of all
diving ducks.
Table 2. illustrates the comparison of pond estimates for May. Ponds are not counted in Stratum
25. May ponds were +68.7% above 2000, +26.9% more than the 10-year mean, and +14.8%
higher than the long term mean.
Table 3. Summarizes the survey design of each strata with the expansion for each area. The 2001
survey sample included all but 2 segments in Stratum 37. These two segments were victims of
weather delays and remoteness from the remaining segments after altering flight paths to
complete the survey. Ironically these two segments are two of the areas with few and sometimes
no ducks on the transect. One segment is entirely over the open water of Lake Manitoba and the
other is in agriculture land with virtually no natural wetlands.
3
Trend graphs for all species found in Figure 1., include population estimates from 1955 through
2001, for all duck species and includes Canada geese, coot, and ponds.
CONCLUSIONS AND OBSERVATIONS: An early winter began in October, 2000 across most
of the survey with 20-25 cm of snow and then submerged the area in colder than average
temperatures until January. Higher than average precipitation and temperatures followed into
spring. Although this provided an excellent scenario for enhanced habitat for many duck species
it greatly delayed the fallowing and planting of crops across the southern portions of Manitoba.
With increased water levels in natural and artificial wetlands and the delayed farm machinery
activities it appears that this area would be excellent for all ducks. The residual carryover of
vegetation from the previous two years and the increased water levels made this area the @place
to be A if you were a duck. The only down side may have been from nest destruction to Afallow
nesting ducks@ after farm machinery finally got into the fields. The outcome remains to be
documented in the upcoming duck production survey.
Southern Manitoba was the only survey area throughout Canada and the U. S. that documented a
positive change in duck numbers over the year 2000 (USFWS Duck Trend Report, 2001). From
the same report we see that of all the surveyed areas Mallard populations increased only in the
southern Manitoba strata. Northern pintail populations also, showed the greatest increase in this
area.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We would like to thank the hospitality and friendship of the southern
Manitoba/southeast Saskatchewan ground crew, and especially the very personal and
professional care of our airplane at the hands of Dave and Jim Wall of Maple Leaf Aviation,
Brandon, Manitoba.
Submitted by: Rodney J. King, Flyway Biologist, MBMO, Mare Island, CA
Date: June 29,2001
4
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 Southern Manitoba.
Stratum % Change From
Species/Ponds 25 36 37 38 39 40 2001
Total
2000
Total
10-
Year
Mean
Long-
Term
Mean
2000 10-Year
Mean
Long-Term
Mean
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 30.0 10.2 148.0 41.4 113.6 132.7 476.0 455.7 452.6 493.4 4.5% 5.2% -3.5%
Am. black duck 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.6 0.4 -100.0% -100.0% -100.0%
Gadwall 7.9 0.5 28.9 3.8 38.8 34.4 114.1 90.9 95.7 71.4 25.5% 19.3% 59.9%
Am. wigeon 4.0 0.6 4.0 0.3 6.7 6.6 22.2 42.0 44.8 100.8 -47.2% -50.5% -78.0%
Am. green-winged teal 2.3 1.9 6.1 2.1 13.4 8.0 33.7 63.5 65.9 64.7 -46.9% -48.8% -47.9%
Blue-winged teal 36.5 3.7 113.2 46.0 167.3 154.0 520.6 401.0 342.8 470.1 29.8% 51.9% 10.7%
N. shoveler 15.9 2.7 55.4 11.1 72.9 57.1 215.2 194.0 139.0 122.2 10.9% 54.8% 76.1%
N. pintail 3.6 0.6 4.5 11.5 63.1 17.6 100.7 45.7 66.7 134.9 120.1% 50.9% -25.3%
Subtotal 100.1 20.1 360.0 116.1 475.8 410.4 1482.5 1295.9 1208.2 1457.9 14.4% 22.7% 1.7%
Divers
Redhead 7.3 1.1 55.9 1.2 22.9 36.1 124.5 125.6 99.8 86.4 -0.9% 24.8% 44.1%
Canvasback 18.1 4.2 13.9 0.4 12.0 25.8 74.4 94.8 91.4 82.0 -21.5% -18.6% -9.3%
Scaups 14.2 0.8 14.6 0.8 23.4 34.6 88.3 83.4 139.7 211.0 5.9% -36.8% -58.1%
Ring-necked duck 28.5 4.0 12.0 0.0 8.9 13.0 66.5 70.7 54.6 44.7 -5.9% 21.9% 49.0%
Goldeneyes 23.2 10.3 5.4 0.0 6.7 6.9 52.5 50.7 37.5 33.3 3.5% 40.0% 57.7%
Bufflehead 9.6 5.2 13.1 0.0 2.4 16.2 46.5 46.0 49.9 31.3 1.2% -6.7% 48.4%
Ruddy Duck 7.5 0.0 10.5 2.1 17.9 28.1 66.2 48.8 47.9 62.7 35.6% 38.2% 5.6%
Subtotal 108.5 25.7 125.4 4.5 94.2 160.7 519.0 519.9 520.7 551.4 -0.2% -0.3% -5.9%
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 -- -100.0% -100.0%
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -- -- --
Scoters 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 2.1 3.7 -100.0% -100.0% -100.0%
Mergansers 22.6 9.5 4.6 0.0 1.0 0.9 38.7 31.8 31.6 23.1 21.5% 22.2% 67.3%
Subtotal 22.6 9.5 4.6 0.0 1.0 0.9 38.7 32.5 34.0 26.9 19.0% 13.6% 43.6%
Total Ducks 231.2 55.3 490.1 120.5 571.1 572.0 2040.2 1848.3 1763.0 2036.2 10.4% 15.7% 0.2%
Canada Goose 11.9 1.2 17.1 4.4 5.7 13.7 53.9 57.3 63.2 33.9 -5.9% -14.7% 58.8%
Am. coot 30.7 0.6 66.3 0.6 119.7 128.1 346.1 410.2 251.6 209.2 -15.6% 37.5% 65.4%
Ponds 0.0 31.1 324.7 122.9 144.0 163.1 785.8 465.7 619.3 684.7 68.7% 26.9% 14.8%
Table 2. Long-term trend in adjusted May pond estimates (thousands) by stratum with
comparisons against the previous year, the previous 10-year mean, and the long-term mean for
Southern Manitoba. Note that ponds are not counted in stratum 25.
Stratum
Year 25 36 37 38 39 40 Total
1961 33.1 289.8 36.3 117.7 109.6 586.6
1962 25.2 313.5 31.9 74.8 88.2 533.6
1963 47.8 247.7 53.2 162.5 168.8 679.9
1964 77.4 289.6 38.6 253.2 250.3 909.1
1965 141.8 443.8 72.6 246.0 218.4 1122.6
1966 115.8 433.2 62.8 242.0 212.4 1066.3
1967 129.0 503.3 70.1 182.7 234.9 1120.0
1968 39.8 153.9 27.4 46.3 67.9 335.3
1969 59.6 153.1 36.8 126.3 87.3 463.1
1970 79.4 368.2 63.1 262.2 262.2 1035.2
1971 69.9 239.9 60.5 200.7 183.5 754.6
1972 103.8 431.5 48.1 180.4 250.0 1013.7
1973 82.6 137.6 33.6 97.7 82.4 433.9
1974 141.7 559.5 67.2 324.6 356.2 1449.1
1975 59.7 264.2 53.3 296.2 264.1 937.6
1976 75.5 444.0 61.7 376.4 231.0 1188.7
1977 35.6 208.2 39.2 67.0 90.0 439.9
1978 129.9 312.5 31.7 114.9 191.3 780.3
1979 67.6 268.5 42.1 202.5 211.7 792.4
1980 32.4 103.2 31.6 58.5 60.9 286.7
1981 30.4 107.8 23.1 47.5 54.0 262.8
1982 27.0 131.1 25.3 88.2 87.4 359.0
1983 89.2 271.7 34.3 163.3 153.9 712.4
1984 69.3 159.1 36.5 86.3 58.2 409.4
1985 45.4 234.6 29.0 83.7 103.6 496.3
1986 94.3 383.8 70.2 197.1 202.2 947.5
1987 42.1 165.2 37.6 119.4 133.8 498.1
1988 108.2 318.5 43.4 48.8 113.6 632.5
1989 36.6 99.1 38.2 63.5 46.8 284.2
1990 80.7 348.5 35.7 52.4 145.2 662.4
1991 28.8 147.1 32.4 70.8 114.0 393.1
1992 61.9 261.9 54.0 150.3 136.6 664.8
1993 48.3 216.8 55.7 63.4 99.2 483.4
1994 45.8 157.9 37.0 89.4 65.6 395.7
1995 79.7 332.1 65.2 239.5 172.9 889.4
1996 76.9 371.2 54.5 177.2 150.1 829.8
1997 99.9 467.5 84.5 157.4 159.2 968.5
1998 43.0 194.9 44.3 124.1 85.7 492.1
1999 36.8 185.6 32.6 204.6 151.1 610.7
2000 45.6 184.0 27.5 91.3 117.3 465.7
2001 31.1 324.7 122.9 144.0 163.1 785.8
10-year Mean 56.7 251.9 48.8 136.8 125.2 619.3
Long-term Mean 68.4 272.6 45.6 148.8 149.3 684.7
Percent Change:
From 2000 -31.8% 76.4% 346.1% 57.7% 39.1% 68.7%
From 10-year Mean -45.2% 28.9% 151.9% 5.3% 30.3% 26.9%
From Long-term Mean -54.6% 19.1% 169.7% -3.2% 9.3% 14.8%
Table 3. Survey design for Southern Manitoba and the Saskatchewan River Delta,
May, 2001.
______________________________________________________________________________
Stratum
Survey Design* 25 36 37 38 39 40 Total
Sq. Mi. in the stratum 7,644 5,500 16,485 5,655 6,552 4,536 46,372
Sq. Mi. in sample 135 58.5 135.0 54.0 121.5 67.5 571.5
Linear Mi. in sample 540 234 540 216 486 270 2,286
No. of transects in sample 5 3 4 3 5 4 24
No. of segments in sample 30 13 30 12 27 15 127
Expansion factor 56.622 94.017 122.111 104.722 53.926 67.200
______________________________________________________________________________
*Survey design and current year design flown were identical.
Appendix 1. Long-term trend in adjusted waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands).
Species/Ponds 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 549.9 811.4 852.4 1116.6 702.5 647.2 442.6 292.5 428.6 534.7
Am. black duck 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.1 0.5
Gadwall 31.4 18.9 23.6 34.1 35.5 28.0 62.2 41.2 84.3 70.7
Am. wigeon 162.3 140.2 120.8 392.7 292.2 106.4 130.4 100.1 118.4 166.3
Am. green-winged teal 36.9 17.8 29.6 74.7 57.1 21.7 67.3 21.0 69.3 10.7
Blue-winged teal 514.8 313.3 399.1 1198.2 1302.2 729.2 543.5 439.2 538.4 490.9
N. shoveler 57.4 66.5 93.4 84.3 198.3 158.0 138.1 75.9 159.9 167.8
N. pintail 335.1 296.2 210.4 208.6 149.0 256.7 115.3 122.5 196.4 141.6
Subtotal 1687.9 1665.1 1729.1 3109.1 2736.7 1947.1 1499.4 1093.0 1597.3 1583.2
Divers
Redhead 66.3 69.9 55.2 99.1 123.7 88.6 77.7 50.6 105.7 117.9
Canvasback 80.5 79.6 54.4 138.3 109.0 131.3 123.1 58.3 100.6 101.3
Scaups 225.3 235.3 281.6 598.0 416.6 289.1 271.1 184.3 269.5 218.6
Ring-necked duck 27.2 25.3 7.0 18.4 55.7 13.0 17.7 21.2 46.2 24.1
Goldeneyes 17.8 13.3 17.5 34.6 87.7 53.9 25.4 29.0 16.4 10.6
Bufflehead 16.3 7.5 2.9 10.9 14.7 9.6 23.1 7.8 20.6 14.3
Ruddy Duck 28.9 28.6 24.9 24.6 81.3 62.5 95.3 55.0 106.2 74.9
Subtotal 462.3 459.7 443.4 923.9 888.8 648.0 633.4 406.2 665.3 561.7
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 3.4 7.5 0.9 10.3 10.1 0.0 1.6 0.5 1.4 2.2
Mergansers 14.2 2.6 0.6 1.2 1.6 5.0 1.9 4.7 8.7 19.3
Subtotal 17.6 10.1 1.6 11.4 11.7 5.0 3.5 5.3 10.1 21.6
Total Ducks 2167.8 2134.9 2174.1 4044.4 3637.1 2600.2 2136.3 1504.5 2272.7 2166.4
Canada Goose 5.6 31.5 0.0 8.8 3.5 9.5 7.4 11.0 9.0 8.4
Am. coot 18.8 45.7 27.8 77.0 286.6 121.5 239.7 52.0 112.5 117.2
Ponds 586.6 533.6 679.9 909.1
Species/Ponds 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 372.0 431.5 468.3 435.1 659.7 757.2 458.3 576.6 370.1 421.0
Am. black duck 0.1 0.4 1.1 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gadwall 54.5 86.6 98.0 71.0 58.5 59.8 51.8 86.5 86.9 58.1
Am. wigeon 177.0 130.4 96.3 144.5 173.5 155.3 112.6 150.9 163.6 108.3
Am. green-winged teal 39.4 60.9 83.2 58.5 174.8 92.3 135.1 125.7 134.1 112.9
Blue-winged teal 360.5 285.1 679.3 496.9 575.5 819.4 450.0 533.6 478.7 703.6
N. shoveler 141.0 135.7 202.1 99.1 172.7 147.0 93.1 146.3 76.8 106.1
N. pintail 145.5 110.0 180.5 82.5 311.3 276.2 169.0 227.8 95.6 310.5
Subtotal 1290.0 1240.6 1808.8 1389.2 2126.2 2307.4 1470.1 1847.4 1405.8 1820.5
Divers
Redhead 175.4 106.2 113.2 72.9 85.9 101.0 82.7 75.8 76.7 91.8
Canvasback 126.7 93.3 109.4 80.2 73.8 71.2 80.2 42.8 68.4 40.7
Scaups 205.4 183.1 246.9 188.3 158.9 227.1 188.2 191.3 138.2 348.4
Ring-necked duck 31.6 35.8 53.9 97.3 35.5 53.5 72.3 47.4 29.8 54.6
Goldeneyes 16.9 7.6 19.6 9.5 17.5 23.6 39.2 16.0 15.6 34.7
Bufflehead 21.3 19.2 49.1 25.7 34.5 21.4 31.2 28.6 11.3 27.6
Ruddy Duck 76.2 102.3 82.5 131.2 58.0 69.5 59.8 34.5 49.7 62.8
Subtotal 653.4 547.5 674.6 605.1 464.2 567.4 553.5 436.4 389.7 660.6
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 2.2 5.7 3.0 9.1 1.3 5.3 6.1 1.7 5.6 17.4
Mergansers 15.0 22.9 7.0 12.4 15.0 11.2 7.4 16.6 13.0 27.3
Subtotal 17.2 28.7 10.0 21.7 16.4 16.5 13.5 18.3 18.5 44.7
Total Ducks 1960.6 1816.7 2493.4 2016.0 2606.7 2891.4 2037.1 2302.0 1814.1 2525.7
Canada Goose 8.1 9.7 4.4 21.0 17.1 21.0 25.1 22.2 30.4 22.3
Am. coot 121.0 62.5 150.3 433.8 139.3 184.2 148.0 172.8 127.3 242.4
Ponds 1122.6 1066.3 1120.0 335.3 463.1 1035.2 754.6 1013.7 433.9 1449.1
Appendix 1 (continued). Long-term trend in adjusted waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands).
Species/Ponds 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 476.5 679.8 482.8 429.9 417.1 596.2 467.5 521.2 427.7 233.4
Am. black duck 0.5 0.5 0.9 0.4 0.6 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gadwall 52.5 62.2 81.8 61.7 81.0 144.5 70.7 58.3 52.6 17.3
Am. wigeon 77.6 78.6 41.7 73.2 82.4 121.1 103.9 67.0 48.4 38.5
Am. green-winged teal 66.0 122.5 70.3 141.2 40.1 35.9 40.7 36.2 52.9 43.2
Blue-winged teal 410.2 722.5 435.8 383.6 536.8 528.0 386.0 496.2 314.3 201.6
N. shoveler 69.3 166.3 62.1 89.6 95.2 75.8 116.1 157.8 135.5 65.3
N. pintail 225.9 263.5 43.1 107.1 201.2 73.6 71.6 110.5 106.2 31.8
Subtotal 1378.5 2095.9 1218.6 1286.6 1454.5 1576.2 1256.6 1447.1 1137.7 631.1
Divers
Redhead 82.7 86.2 108.8 80.6 76.5 65.4 150.9 94.8 60.5 20.1
Canvasback 90.9 127.4 74.3 57.7 60.9 75.9 101.1 65.5 48.0 56.2
Scaups 312.0 267.9 164.6 307.2 149.8 222.0 249.1 169.3 243.5 120.2
Ring-necked duck 59.7 21.8 14.6 35.8 44.6 88.3 87.8 47.6 50.0 17.5
Goldeneyes 43.7 42.5 14.4 78.2 39.9 33.2 85.9 41.9 42.8 7.4
Bufflehead 29.6 42.8 32.5 45.9 20.3 33.0 35.6 30.3 32.8 26.5
Ruddy Duck 52.6 45.7 40.2 56.3 23.3 104.7 117.0 161.8 60.6 38.9
Subtotal 671.2 634.3 449.4 661.6 415.4 622.6 827.3 611.0 538.2 286.8
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 12.1 6.1 4.2 4.1 9.0 0.8 1.0 1.5 6.0 1.5
Mergansers 36.8 12.5 15.0 25.7 43.0 54.9 51.9 15.9 70.6 24.9
Subtotal 49.0 18.6 19.1 29.8 52.0 55.8 52.9 17.5 76.6 26.4
Total Ducks 2098.7 2748.8 1687.1 1978.1 1921.8 2254.5 2136.8 2075.7 1752.4 944.3
Canada Goose 20.9 9.3 24.3 27.5 25.7 39.5 35.8 31.9 47.1 40.2
Am. coot 312.5 485.5 267.4 128.0 196.3 499.7 404.2 197.7 135.2 55.6
Ponds 937.6 1188.7 439.9 780.3 792.4 286.7 262.8 359.0 712.4 409.4
Species/Ponds 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 329.2 431.8 332.0 340.4 315.3 363.1 340.6 389.4 354.7 436.5
Am. black duck 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 1.1 0.0 0.3
Gadwall 64.3 105.7 71.2 70.3 69.6 120.1 79.7 111.9 94.4 57.6
Am. wigeon 53.5 63.4 39.5 43.6 56.1 58.1 55.0 52.5 31.9 47.3
Am. green-winged teal 24.2 55.4 46.2 38.3 40.4 41.2 39.3 138.5 24.5 32.1
Blue-winged teal 225.2 386.0 291.5 369.0 314.5 343.1 272.2 430.4 355.6 172.2
N. shoveler 99.9 165.5 115.6 122.8 79.2 95.2 88.9 151.3 79.5 64.8
N. pintail 45.8 124.0 77.9 36.4 19.6 57.4 26.6 100.2 40.5 52.5
Subtotal 842.6 1332.5 974.5 1021.0 894.9 1078.4 902.6 1375.3 981.1 863.3
Divers
Redhead 51.3 38.3 52.2 53.6 33.5 85.0 99.9 116.3 44.2 51.2
Canvasback 60.4 57.1 42.5 56.0 53.4 68.5 65.3 80.0 69.5 100.2
Scaups 155.6 309.1 169.5 151.1 101.9 152.9 101.4 221.2 123.0 154.7
Ring-necked duck 42.7 34.5 55.5 57.2 33.8 49.3 47.4 113.8 52.6 42.2
Goldeneyes 66.7 22.8 33.8 34.5 21.1 40.6 15.0 36.1 24.8 6.5
Bufflehead 41.7 31.9 40.3 33.1 33.8 35.6 48.2 67.2 28.0 49.1
Ruddy Duck 44.5 69.9 81.0 68.1 57.9 72.7 80.5 60.8 74.6 15.1
Subtotal 462.8 563.7 474.8 453.7 335.4 504.6 457.6 695.5 416.5 419.0
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.3
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 3.6 0.3 1.6 3.4 0.2 0.3 1.8 4.8 3.0 1.5
Mergansers 35.6 28.0 23.6 28.3 25.1 47.8 23.6 27.2 24.8 26.1
Subtotal 39.2 28.3 25.2 31.6 25.3 48.1 25.3 32.0 28.3 28.8
Total Ducks 1344.7 1924.5 1474.5 1506.3 1255.6 1631.2 1385.6 2102.8 1426.0 1311.1
Canada Goose 43.2 45.2 38.5 74.6 97.0 52.9 61.1 67.2 74.4 52.6
Am. coot 78.7 217.9 163.2 773.9 129.8 180.3 129.1 266.0 173.5 44.6
Ponds 496.3 947.5 498.1 632.5 284.2 662.4 393.1 664.8 483.4 395.7
Appendix 1 (continued). Long-term trend in adjusted waterfowl breeding population estimates (thousands).
Species/Ponds 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Ducks
Dabblers
Mallard 514.8 439.6 502.2 507.2 585.6 455.7 476.0
Am. black duck 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 3.0 0.0
Gadwall 94.4 106.1 97.7 106.1 118.1 90.9 114.1
Am. wigeon 50.4 50.9 41.8 34.0 42.8 42.0 22.2
Am. green-winged teal 55.6 132.0 75.5 48.7 48.9 63.5 33.7
Blue-winged teal 328.9 340.4 326.0 303.9 497.6 401.0 520.6
N. shoveler 172.8 187.4 166.5 115.4 169.5 194.0 215.2
N. pintail 123.8 85.4 65.0 64.9 62.8 45.7 100.7
Subtotal 1341.2 1341.7 1274.7 1180.8 1525.3 1295.9 1482.5
Divers
Redhead 133.5 89.7 79.4 170.7 87.4 125.6 124.5
Canvasback 111.3 115.6 90.7 88.9 98.1 94.8 74.4
Scaups 183.9 215.0 116.4 77.2 120.6 83.4 88.3
Ring-necked duck 46.2 45.4 49.5 41.1 37.1 70.7 66.5
Goldeneyes 41.3 64.6 40.0 51.9 44.0 50.7 52.5
Bufflehead 50.7 36.5 63.0 47.7 62.2 46.0 46.5
Ruddy Duck 47.5 40.7 39.1 15.7 56.0 48.8 66.2
Subtotal 614.4 607.6 478.2 493.1 505.5 519.9 519.0
Miscellaneous
Oldsquaw 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0
Eiders 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Scoters 0.7 1.4 3.4 3.0 0.8 0.7 0.0
Mergansers 14.1 32.2 67.4 18.5 50.7 31.8 38.7
Subtotal 15.2 33.6 70.8 22.4 51.5 32.5 38.7
Total Ducks 1970.9 1982.9 1823.6 1696.3 2082.3 1848.3 2040.2
Canada Goose 62.1 66.9 79.2 60.3 50.9 57.3 53.9
Am. coot 199.7 284.9 288.5 537.4 182.4 410.2 346.1
Ponds 889.4 829.8 968.5 492.1 610.7 465.7 785.8
Strata 25, 36-40 Mergansers
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Mallard
Population
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 American black duck
Population
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Gadwall
Population
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
130000
140000
150000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 American wigeon
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 American green-winged teal
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 25, 36-40 Blue-winged teal
Population
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
1300000
1400000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Northern shoveler
Population
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
130000
140000
150000
160000
170000
180000
190000
200000
210000
220000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Northern pintail
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Redhead
Population
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 25, 36-40 Canvasback
Population
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
130000
140000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Scaups
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Ring-necked duck
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Goldeneyes
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Bufflehead
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Oldsquaw
Population
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Common Eider
Population
0
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Strata 25, 36-40 Scoters
Population
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
16000
17000
18000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Ruddy Duck
Population
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
110000
120000
130000
140000
150000
160000
170000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Canada Goose
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 American coot
Population
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Ponds
Population
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
1100000
1200000
1300000
1400000
1500000
Year
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Dabblers
Population
0
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Divers
Population
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
700000
800000
900000
1000000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Miscellaneous
Population
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Strata 25, 36-40 Total Ducks
Population
0
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
5000000
Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010