Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

372.0. "Results of Mass Coastal Waterfowl Survey" by CLUSTA::STORM () Fri Mar 10 1989 10:23

    Every year the Mass F & W folks take a mid winter survey of waterfowl
    populations along the coast.  Thought y'all might be interested in
    the 1989 results:
    
    They counted 21,615 black ducks. Well up from the 19,035 counted last
    year and 2% above the ten year average.
    
    
    Mallard numbers (2,100) was also up, but only represents a small
    portion of the states population, since most winter south.
    
    Bufflehead (9,790) and canvasback numbers (1,860) were higher than
    last year and higher than the ten year average.
    
    Merganser, scaup, and goldeneye counts were about a third lower than
    last year and well below the ten year average.
    
    Counts of scoter, eider and oldsquaw were all low, with the eider
    count of 22,625 the lowest since 1962.  The scooter numbers of (4,810)
    was 173% lower than the ten year average.
    
    Canada goose numbereds of 12,455) were well below last years record
    high of 18,135 but still 2% above ten year average.  This number is
    probably not significant, since there was 100% snow cover during
    the survey last year forceing geese to the coast.  This year they
    have remained well inland.
    
    The brant count (2,265) was well above last years low count and 2%
    above the ten year average.