WATERFOWL POPULATION STATUS, 1999

• Main Authors: Wilkins, Khristi, Cooch, Evan G.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 1999
• Subjects: Canada; Anas acuta; Anas clypeata; Aythya marila; Northern Shoveler; Shoveler
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usfwspubs/404; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/usfwspubs/article/1403/viewcontent/status99.pdf

This report summarizes the most recent information on the status of North American duck populations to facilitate development of harvest regulations in the U.S. The results in this report differ from those published in the earlier •Trends in Duck Breeding Populations, 1955-99." Because of recent changes, tables from the Trend Report, not normally included in the Status Report, will be included this year. The 1999 estimate for total ducks in the traditional survey area was 43.4 million birds, the largest population size estimated since operational surveys began in 1955. This is an increase (P<0.01) of 11% over that of 1998, and 32% higher (P<0.01) than the 1955-98 average. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 10.8 million, the second largest population size estimated. This is an increase of 12% (P=0.01) over last year and 47% (P<0.01) greater than the long-term average. Blue-winged teal (Anas discors) abundance was 7.1 million, an all-time high, and 65% greater than the long-term average (P<0.01). Northern pintail (Anas acuta), scaup (Aythya marila and Aythya affinis), green-winged teal (Anas crecca), and northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) numbers increased from 1998 estimates, while gadwall (Anas strepera) decreased (P<0.04). Gadwall, green-winged teal, northern shoveler, redheads (Aythya americana), and canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) were above their respective long-term averages (P<0.05), while pintails and scaup remained below their long-term averages (P<0.01). American wigeon (Anas americana) numbers were unchanged from last year or from long-term average. May habitat conditions in the traditional survey area were generally good to excellent, except for a few dry areas primarily in southern and central Alberta, Montana, and central Saskatchewan. The number of May ponds in the traditional survey area was 6.7 million, an increase of 46% over 1998 and 37% above the long-term average (P<0.01). In the eastern areas of Canada and the U.S. (strata 51-56 and 62), the total number of ...