DEP Announces Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results

Staff from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conducted the annual Midwinter Waterfowl Survey in mid-January. The survey is conducted throughout the Atlantic Flyway and is used as an index of long-term wintering waterfowl trends. In Connecticut, the survey is conducted from a low-flying airplane where observers take a census of all waterfowl seen along the coast, major rivers and selected reservoirs and lakes.

Poor weather conditions and aircraft problems delayed the timing of the survey in 2005. Temperatures in the days preceding the survey were abnormally warm, with highs in the low 60’s. As a result of the mild weather, ice cover was virtually non-existent, and survey conditions were generally poor. Waterfowl are more widely distributed when there is a lack of ice inland. Therefore, counts of waterfowl along the coast are generally poor. Several species, however, were relatively abundant during the survey. Continuing a recent trend, Atlantic brant numbers were above the long-term average, as was the mallard count. American black duck numbers, however, were below the five-year average. Of interest was the observation of common eiders during the survey. This is the first time that eiders have been observed during the midwinter survey.

The scaup count was the second lowest in the past 50 years. The scaup population has been declining significantly during the last 30 years. Large rafts of scaup, however, were observed this year on the New York side of Long Island Sound. This could have been a temporal shift in distribution during the survey period. Historically, Connecticut wintered scaup in the tens of thousands. Declines in scaup numbers throughout North America continue to concern state and federal wildlife biologists. Current research will hopefully provide some much needed answers. Canvasbacks were observed in several locales during the survey. The counts for other diving ducks, such as common goldeneye and bufflehead, were well above the five-year average and higher than last year’s count.

Connecticut Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results for Major Species*
Species	2004	2005	Five-year Average
Atlantic Brant	1,600	1,400	500
Black Duck	2,200	1,000	1,900
Bufflehead	1,700	800	700
Canada Goose	4,600	3,000	2,700
Canvasback	0	100	300
Mallard	1,000	1,000	800
Merganser	500	400	1,100
Mute Swan	1,000	800	900
Old Squaw	50	100	100
Common goldeneye	1,200	700	600
Scaup	1,900	400	1,400
*rounded to nearest hundred