Waterfowl Population Status, 2002

• Main Authors: Garrettson, Pamela R., Moser, Timothy J., Wilkins, Khristi
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2002
• Subjects: Canada; Parkland; Aythya marila
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usfwspubs/403; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/usfwspubs/article/1402/viewcontent/status02Reduced.pdf

In the traditional survey area (strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77), total duck abundance was 31.2 + 0.5 [SE] million birds. This was 14% below (P< 0.001) last year’s estimate of 36.1 ± 0.6 million birds, and 6% below the long-term (1955-2001) average (P<0.001). Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 7.5 ± 0.2 million, similar to (P=0.23) the 2001 estimate of 7.9 ± 0.2 million, and essentially identical to the long-term average (P=1.00). Blue-winged teal (A. discors) abundance was 4.2 ± 0.2 million, which was 27% below last year’s estimate of 5.8 ± 0.3 million (P<0.001), but similar to the long-term average (P=0.22). Gadwall (A. strepera; 2.2 ± 0.1 million, -17%), shovelers (A. clypeata; 2.3 ± 0.1 million, -30%), and pintails (A. acuta; 1.8 ± 0.1 million, -46%) were below 2001 estimates (P<0.02). Wigeon (A. americana; 2.3 ± 0.1 million), green-winged teal (A. crecca; 2.3 ± 0.1 million), redheads (Aythya americana; 0.6 ± 0.1 million), canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria; 0.5 ± 0.1 million), and scaup (Aythya marila and A. affinis combined; 3.5 ± 0.2 million) were unchanged from 2001 estimates. Gadwall (+37%), green-winged teal (+28%), and shovelers (+10%) all remained above their long-term averages, whereas wigeon (-12%), pintail (-58%), canvasback (-14%), and scaup numbers (-34%) were below long-term averages. Northern pintails and scaup were the lowest and second lowest counts on record, respectively. The redhead estimate was similar to the long-term average. Below-average winter and spring precipitation in the prairies and parklands were reflected in pond counts much lower than in 2001. Total May ponds (U.S. prairies and prairie and parkland Canada combined) of 2.7 ± 0.1 million were the second lowest since 1974, when this estimate was first recorded, 41% below last year’s estimate of 4.6 ± 0.1 million (P<0.001), and 45% below (P<0.001) the long-term average. The projected mid-continent mallard fall flight index is 8.9 million, statistically similar to last year's. The eastern survey area is ...