Waterbird Census Summary 2007

This summarizes the waterbird survey work done at Patuxent Research Refuge in 2007. After the record low in 2006, Canada geese populations returned to near the ten year average. Ringneck ducks reached a record high, 25 percent above the ten year average. Mallards and hooded mergansers recorded record lows. Black ducks were near average, and for the first time ever, exceeded mallards in the Fall Quarter. Wood duck populations were near average. Other duck species as a group were well below average. Wading birds were about average. Shorebirds were 50 percent below average.