Status of WaterfowlSpring Is Here - and the 2014 Waterfowl Survey Has Begun!
May waterfowl survey begins. Photo by
Murray Gillespie (Ducks Unlimited Canada).
Unlike last year's early start, pilot biologists found themselves anxiously waiting for conditions to warrant the start of the 2013 Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. While a few days later than planned many of the 12 air crews began taking to the air the first full week of May, and the associated ground crews have started their field work. Check out the Pilot Biologist Reports for daily reports and images of what they are observing across Canada and the northern U.S. See what the air crews see as they fly fixed-wing aircraft at low altitude (150 ft) over transect lines through waterfowl habitat areas. Over 55,000 miles of transects are flown every year. That’s like counting ducks in a single line over two times around the world!
A cooperative effort of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and state, provincial, and tribal agencies, this survey currently covers more than 2.1 million square miles of the northern United States and Canada, and includes most of the primary duck nesting areas in North America.
2012 White-Fronted Goose Survey Reveals Increase in Population
The Fall Inventory of Mid-Continent White-Fronted Geese was conducted throughout the Canadian prairie in late September and early October and the results are now available. This year's survey yielded 778,000 white-fronted geese in Alberta and Saskatchewan, a 12 percent increase from the previous year. Good wetland conditions prevailed through most of the survey area.
2012 Status of Waterfowl Report Released
Final results from the 2012 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey are now available. Preliminary reports are confirmed -- a total duck population estimate of 48.6 million birds in the traditional survey area, which is a 7% increase over last year's tally and 43 percent above the long term average.
2012 Adaptive Harvest Management Report
This hard copy report provides waterfowl managers and the public with information about the use of Adaptive Harvest Management for setting waterfowl regulations in the United States.
2012 Pond Numbers and Habitat Survey Available
Preliminary results for the 2012 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey are now available. The estimate of 48.6 million birds was 7% higher than last year’s estimate of 45.6 million, and was 43% above the long-term average. The total pond estimate was 5.5 million, which was 32% below last year’s estimate of 8.1 million and 9% above the long-term average of 5.1 million. Habitat conditions were characterized by average to below-average moisture, a mild winter, and an early spring across the southern portion of the traditional and eastern survey areas. Northern habitats of the traditional and eastern survey areas generally received average moisture and temperatures. Note: Estimates sometimes change between the preliminary numbers and final results.
2012 Status And Harvests of Sandhill Cranes Report Now Available
The report covers the Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain, Lower Colorado River Valley, and Eastern populations of sandhill cranes.
2012 Survey Begins!
Spring Waterfowl survey begins. Photo by
Murray Gillespie (Ducks Unlimited Canada).
The 2012 Breeding Population and Habitat Survey got off to an early start in late April, as the first of 12 air crews took to the skies and the associated ground crews began their field work. For a front-row seat for the duration of the survey, check out the Pilot Biologist Reports, where some great stories and pictures are already coming in from Canada and the northern U.S. From this site you can see what the air crews see as they fly fixed-wing aircraft at low altitude (150 ft) over transect lines through waterfowl habitat areas. Over 55,000 miles of transects are flown every year. That’s like counting ducks in a single line over two times around the world!
A cooperative effort of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and state, provincial, and tribal agencies, this survey currently covers more than 2.1 million square miles of the northern United States and Canada, and includes most of the primary duck nesting areas in North America.
2011 Status of Waterfowl Report Released
Final results from the 2011 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey are now available. Preliminary reports are confirmed -- a total duck population estimate of 45.6 million birds in the traditional survey area, which is an 11% increase over last year's tally and 35 percent above the long term average.
2011 Adaptive Harvest Management Report
This hard copy report provides waterfowl managers and the public with information about the use of Adaptive Harvest Management for setting waterfowl regulations in the United States.
2011 Pond Numbers and Habitat Survey Available
Preliminary results for the 2011 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey are now available. The estimate of 45.6 million birds was 11% higher than last year’s estimate of 40.9 million, and was 35% above the long-term average. The total pond estimate was 8.1 million, which was 22% above last year’s estimate and 62% above the long-term average. Habitat conditions were characterized by average to above-average moisture and a normal winter and spring across the entire traditional and eastern survey areas. The exception was a portion of the west-central traditional survey area that had received below-average moisture. Note: Estimates sometimes change between the preliminary numbers and final results.
