Winter Waterfowl Survey Results - 2012

Wildlife biologists counted 3,716 ducks and 3,904 Canada geese during the annual mid-winter waterfowl survey in early January, according to Steve Wilson, waterfowl biologist for the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Compared to 2011, the number of ducks and geese counted decreased 26% and 36%, respectively, for the 2012 survey.

“These numbers are actually higher than I expected considering the extremely mild weather before and during the survey,” Wilson said. “When the ground is not snow covered and small streams and ponds are not frozen over, waterfowl are scattered across the landscape instead of being congregated on large water bodies where they are easily surveyed. The 2012 numbers are actually above the 10-year average for ducks by 23%, and goose numbers were only 10% below the 10-year average.”

Canada geese, mallards and black ducks, as usual, were the most commonly observed species in the 2012 survey.  Other waterfowl observed include:  scoters, scaup, ring-necked duck, redhead, bufflehead, mergansers and snow geese.

Twenty-one bald eagles and one golden eagle were also observed.

The survey was conducted on January 04, 06 and 10, 2012, and included portions of the Kanawha, Ohio, Shenandoah and New River as well as Tygart and Bluestone lakes.