Annual Survey Estimates Number of Winter Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey 2022 Results Released

Annual Survey Estimates Number of Winter Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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 state’s Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River. and Atlantic Ocean coastal shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 563,800 waterfowl, lower than the 627,000 birds observed in 2020, and below the most recent five-year average of 718,600 birds. The 2021 Mid-Winter Survey was not flown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Winter distribution of waterfowl is influenced by many factors,” Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Director Paul Peditto said. “Global weather patterns, food availability, habitat quality, prevalence of ice, and the population status of each species all play a role in how many birds we count and where we count them.”

Overall, dabbling ducks increased in number this year compared to 2020, as did pintails and green-winged teal, which likely reflected the mild fall temperatures. Likewise, generally mild winter weather likely led to fewer diving ducks being observed than in the 2020 survey.

Hunter reports suggest that late arriving winter weather moved more scaup, canvasbacks, and redheads into the Chesapeake Bay region after the survey was completed. Biologists counted more Canada geese – 361,100 – than the 2020 survey, which counted 327,200. DNR considers this a hopeful sign that flyway wide harvest restrictions for Atlantic Population (AP) geese are working.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually since the early 1960s, and covers most of the tidal shorelines and near-shore waterfowl habitat in Maryland. These numbers are not population estimates, but offer an annual “snapshot” view of how waterfowl use of important nearshore habitats changes over time.

Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results 2017-2022 (no survey conducted in 2021)

Rounded to the nearest hundred

Species	2017	2018	2019	2020	2022
Mallard	45,300	64,300	39,000	56,000	53,500
Black Duck	25,500	38,300	17,200	21,000	24,600
Gadwall	11,200	3,100	4,800	10,800	6,800
Widgeon	1,400	700	1,200	1,100	300
Green-winged Teal	2,100	500	1,500	2,000	6,900
Shoveler	100	0	100	300	900
Pintail	2,300	1,100	600	1,800	4,600
Total Dabblers	87,900	108,000	64,400	93,000	97,600
Redhead	20,700	27,500	20,600	10,600	7,000
Canvasback	75,100	60,000	46,000	46,900	7,700
Scaup	138,800	45,300	72,100	59,000	29,500
Ring-necked Duck	400	300	1,100	3,000	2,100
Goldeneye	700	100	100	300	100
Bufflehead	12,900	29,500	13,200	11,400	10,600
Ruddy Duck	35,000	24,500	28,900	18,500	22,400
Total Divers	283,600	187,200	182,000	149,700	79,400
Scoters	4,900	4,500	27,800	5,700	1,300
Long-tailed Duck	2,700	0	300	200	100
Mergansers	2,100	2,300	2,000	2,300	1,400
Total Ducks	381,200	302,000	276,500	250,900	179,800
Brant	900	400	900	900	200
Snow Goose	21,300	63,500	34,700	40,900	13,600
Canada Goose	394,700	641,000	250,200	327,200	361,100
Tundra Swan	14,500	16,400	4,000	7,100	7,400
Total Waterfowl	812,600	1,023,300	566,300	627,000	563,800

Licenses, stamps, and permits may be purchased online by phone at 855-855-3906, at a Natural Resources Service Center or at any one of the more than 250 Sport License Agents statewide.

Hunters with questions may contact the Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service at 410-260-8540.

Licenses, stamps, and permits may be purchased online by phone at 855-855-3906, at a Natural Resources Service Center or at any one of the more than 250 Sport License Agents statewide.

Hunters with questions may contact the Maryland DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service at 410-260-8540.