Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces Midwinter Waterfowl Survey 2023 Results
Annual Survey of Wintering Waterfowl Finds Increase in Diving Ducks
In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) made visual estimates of the ducks, geese, and swans along most of the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 632,200 waterfowl, higher than the 563,800 birds observed in 2022 but lower than the most recent five-year average of 682,520 birds.
“The distribution and abundance of wintering waterfowl are influenced not only by the annual changes in population size but also the weather conditions during migration and throughout the winter,” said Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto. “The surveys our staff conduct provide a snapshot of where waterfowl are located in the state and are combined with data from other states in the flyway to track the status of several important waterfowl species.”>>>
https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2023/02/09/maryland-department-of-natural-resources-announces-midwinter-waterfowl-survey-2023-results/