Midest Region Refuge System

Waterfowl Counts 2003

2003 WATERFOWL AERIAL SURVEYS

Each week during fall migration, biologists fly the Mississippi River to count the number of waterfowl using the Refuge.

This data reflects the numbers of waterfowl surveyed. Due to survey techniques, this total number is not necessarily the total number of waterfowl in a specific pool.

Total numbers of waterfowl reflect the whole refuge of Pools 4-13, unless indicated otherwise.

The last flight for this season was flown on December 12, 2003.

SPECIES	September 23 Pools 9,10, and 11 were not flown due to scheduling conflicts with the air craft *TOTAL*	*September29, 2003* *All pools* *(4-13)* *were flown* *TOTAL*	*October 8, 2003* *All pools (4-13)* *Were flown* *TOTAL*	*October 14, 2003* *TOTAL*	*October 20, 2003* *TOTAL*	*October 27, 2003* *TOTAL*	*November 7, 2003* *Note that only one side of transect was surveyed for pools 11 and 12* *TOTAL*	*November 11, 2003* *TOTAL*
*SWANS*	-		5	15	32	65	19,145	20,595
**CANADA GEESE**	1,310	4,817	7,040	3,700	10,016	7,130	11,890	15,155
*OTHER GEESE*	-		15				-	-
*MALLARD*	985	7,663	12,087	10,350	17,832	30,710	47,410	36,965
*BLACKDUCK*	5	10	20	15	10	25	25	110
*PINTAIL*	-	545	550	425	1,300	1,695	1,135	475
*GADWALL*	70	1,925	4,635	3,430	6,005	9,875	3,460	1,740
*WIGEON*	70	2,605	4,625	3,890	5,062	6,310	1,465	435
*N. SHOVELER*	-	5	45	25	245	210	-	75
*BLUE-WINGED TEAL*	255	2,245	875	235	250	275	-	45
*GREEN-WINGED TEAL*	27	570	345	400	1,140	620	70	100
*WOODDUCK*	195	1,170	395	115	325	245	55	15
*REDHEAD*	-			75	370	560	850	1,395
*CANVASBACK*	-			25,535	81,920	236,580	307,115	230,937
*RINGNECK*	-	380	810	4,705	5,605	17,515	9,495	8,845
*SCAUP*	-			11,115	51,840	144,120	132,030	89,255
*C. GOLDENEYE*	-				105	720	3,665	4,550
*BUFFLEHEAD*	-				2	275	230	675
*MERGANSER*	-				5	60	130	115
*RUDDY DUCK*	-			5	37	85	60	360

*DUCKS, GEESE & SWAN TOTALS*	2,917	21,935	31,447	64,035	182,101	457,075	538,230	411,842

*PUDDLE DUCKS*	1,607	16,738	23,577	18,885	32,169	49,965	53,620	39,960
*DIVING DUCKS*	-	380	810	41,435	139,884	399,915	453,575	336,132

SPECIES	*November 19, 2003* *TOTAL*	*November 25, 2003* *TOTAL*	*December 4, 2003* *Pool 13 was not surveyed* *TOTAL*	*December 12, 2003* *Last flight of the season* *TOTAL*
*SWANS*	17,035	15,283	11,370	5,735
CANADA GEESE	10,810	16,900	13,345	8,225
*OTHER GEESE*	-	-	-	-
*MALLARD*	35,020	36,900	44,105	13,240
*BLACKDUCK*	35	25	5	5
*PINTAIL*	765	-	-	-
*GADWALL*	1,265	295	15	-
*WIGEON*	460	-	-	-
*N. SHOVELER*	310	-	15	-
*BLUE-WINGED TEAL*	-	-	-	-
*GREEN-WINGED TEAL*	260	-	-	-
*WOODDUCK*	35	-	5	-
*REDHEAD*	1,010	-	-	-
*CANVASBACK*	149,310	112,510	23,215	3,825
*RINGNECK*	3,415	970	150	-
*SCAUP*	28,930	29,310	14,965	-
*C. GOLDENEYE*	4,520	12,615	9,025	2,865
*BUFFLEHEAD*	1,735	895	820	35
*MERGANSER*	230	60	170	1,040
*RUDDY DUCK*	425	95	-	5

*DUCKS, GEESE & SWAN TOTALS*	255,570	225,858	117,205	34,975

*PUDDLE DUCKS*	38,150	37,220	44,145	13,245
*DIVING DUCKS*	189,575	156,455	48,345	7,770

For additional information write or call:

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
51 East 4th Street, Room 101
Winona, Minnesota 55987
(507) 452-4232

Select links below to view 2003 waterfowl numbers by District and Pool locations.

Winona District: Pools 4-6
LaCrosse District: Pools 7-8
McGregor District: Pools 9-11
Savanna District: Pools 12-14

Last updated: April 15, 2009

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