Little change was noted in the numbers of ducks noted during the 1963 midwinter waterfowl survey in the Atlantic Flyway as compared with the 1962 survey, the Department of the Interior announced today. However, more geese were counted this year than last.
Southern areas had a higher proportion of birds this year due to the cold weather. Drought in some Sothern areas forced birds out of the open where they were more easily counted. This year’s winter tally of both puddle ducks and diving ducks was 14 percent below the 10-year average.
Important in the flyway kill were black duck, mallard, wood duck, greenwing teal and scaup. Maintaining a closed season on redheads and canvasback has helped save these birds. Counts indicate they are holding their own since the season was closed.
In contrast to the ducks, observation of various species of geese indicate significant increases over the 1962 tallies. Canada geese were up 15 percent, brant 39 percent, snow geese 31 percent , and swan 58 percent. Compared to the 10-year average, the percentage changes were plus 15, minus 13, plus 34 and plus 29, respectively
Forty –one percent more coot were tallied this year than in 1962, with Florida harboring the bulk of the birds. Compared with the long-term record, however, the number of coot observed were down 37 percent.
The annual midwinter survey was carried out by 369 observers in the Atlantic Flyway. They flew 27,115 miles and covered an additional 11,626 miles by car and boat.
In reporting on the Atlantic Flyway count, the Department explained that the midwinter survey is conducted to learn information about winter habitat conditions and to get data on long-term waterfowl trends. Because observers tally only what they see and at times all the waterfowl present are not visible it is not possible to make the actual count of all the waterfowl in the flyway. Over several years, however, the data do provide a general picture of trends. For most of the geese the midwinter survey is a reliable head-count.
The Department also pointed out that the midwinter survey data do not have a direct cause and effect relationship with the annual waterfowl hunting regulations, but that the survey is only one of several sets of information used in establishing hunting regulations each year.
The extensive survey covers the main waterfowl wintering areas of Mexico and Canada as well as all States except Alaska. It is coordinated by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The entire job must be completed as soon as possible to guard against duplicate count of birds that may move from one area to another because of weather changes.
On the first day of the survey, hundreds of waterfowl observers in the United States, Canada and Mexico use cars, boats and airplanes to see how many waterfowl of each species can be observed in the assigned areas. Men and equipment from the Fish and Wildlife Service, State game and fish departments, the United States Armed Forces, the Canadian Wildlife Service, fish and game departments of the Canadian Provinces, and private organizations all cooperate in carrying out this important survey.
The States in the Atlantic Flyway are: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
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