Canada Goose Population Increases in Maryland in 2009

March 2009 -- There was a notable increase in the number of Canada geese along Maryland’s Chesapeake and Atlantic shorelines this winter, according to the results of the 2009 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey, conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Biologists counted 498,200 Canada geese in January for this year’s survey, an increase from 373,100 counted in the winter of 2008. Overall, survey teams counted 836,900 ducks, geese and swans, a slight increase from 2008.

“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of most waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Larry Hindman, DNR Waterfowl Project Leader. “More typical winter weather led to higher numbers recorded for a few species this year.”

In addition to Canada geese, survey crews counted other waterfowl species. Some notable results include:

• Mallards were the most common duck observed, with 58,300 counted. Canvasbacks and scaups were also abundant (51,300 and 51,600, respectively).
• There were significantly fewer scaups counted in 2009 (51,600) than in 2008 (140,000). The North American lesser scaup population has been experiencing a long-term decline. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why, but factors may include reduced food and breeding habitat, declining water quality, contaminants, and climate change.
• Overall, 17 types of ducks were counted in 2009, for a total of 261,000 ducks.
• 14,200 tundra swans were counted in 2009, a small increase from 2008, when 11,700 were counted.
• A few of the less-common waterfowl species observed in 2009 were widgeons (500), shovelers (400), pintails (800), long-tailed ducks (400) and brants (800).

Visit DNR’s website for more on the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey, including historical data and a chart with the abundance of each waterfowl species.