Waterfowl Count for 1-18-01

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United States Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge
Weekly Waterfowl Population Summary

Calendar Week (Sun.- Sat.): Jan. 14, 2001-Jan. 20, 2001

Census Date: 1/18/01

Whistling - Duck		Ring-necked Duck	837
Tundra Swan		Greater Scaup
Trumpeter Swan		Lesser Scaup
Mute Swan		Oldsquaw
Gr. White-Fronted Goose		Black Scoter
Snow Goose	10	Surf Scoter
Canada Goose	12,885	Common Goldeneye
Wood Duck		Bufflehead
Green-winged Teal	67	Hooded Merganser
American Black Duck	1,290	Common Merganser
Mallard	24,856	Red-breasted Merganser
Northern Pintail	261	Ruddy Duck
Blue-winged Teal		Adult Bald Eagle	1
Cinnamon Teal		Imm. Bald Eagle
Northern Shoveler		Golden Eagle
Gadwall	376	Scaup
American Wigeon	544	Unknown
Canvasback
Redhead		American Coot	58

	Geese	Ducks	Coots	Swans
Total	12,895	28,231
Preceding Week (%change)	-36%	+65%
Preceding Year (%change)	+255%	+59%
10 Year Average (%change)	+23%	-7%

NOTE: %change = difference divided by former population level.

Supplementary Information

Waterfowl Activity: Waterfowl use picked up in Pool 1 - 3 this week. Ducks and geese made heavy use of corn fields in Pool 2 during the entire week. During this survey some geese were observed in every corn field throughout the refuge. Ducks were most commonly found in shallow flooded grasses, millet, and corn. Pool 7 had heaviest concentration of ducks (38% of ducks on survey) and almost entirely composed of mallards.

Hunting Pressure and Success: No data

Weather: Experiencing seasonal temperatures with lows between 26 and 38F and daily highs in the 40's. Beginning to receive typical winter rains with three days of intermittent showers. Snow predicted for Friday and Saturday. Only about 5% surface ice remaining. Ice most prevalent in shallow flooded woods.

Habitat: For geese the most influential habitat feature this week appears to be the refuge corn fields. Ducks are mostly hanging out in the shallows over moist soils, millet, and some flooded corn. Recent rains have added .2 to .3 ft. of water in Pools 6, 7, 12, and 11. Moving water from Pool 2 to Pools 3 & 1. Observed more ducks in Pool 3 this go around than on any previous survey this waterfowl season.

Census was complete____xx____ Census was a sample ________
Percentage of population covered 100 %

Census Date: January 18, 2001
Ground Survey Reported by: Walter H. Neasbitt, Acting Refuge Mgr.

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