Midwinter 2024 Waterfowl Survey Results Released
Annual survey estimates number of wintering ducks, geese, and swans
Photo by State Park Ranger Elena Gilroy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted their annual population estimates of ducks, geese and swans along the state’s Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac River and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 593,200 waterfowl which was lower than the 632,200 birds observed in 2023 but consistent with the most recent five-year average of 596,500 birds.
“Waterfowl are continually responding to environmental cues like weather and food availability as they seek resources necessary to ensure their survival,” said Wildlife and Heritage Director Karina Stonesifer. “The standardized survey protocols associated with the Mid-Winter Survey allow our biologists to assemble a long-term picture of waterfowl abundance and distribution in Maryland, and this survey represents one of the department’s many contributions to state, regional, and continental waterfowl data collection efforts used to manage this valuable resource.”
Overall, dabbling duck numbers (91,300) were similar to the 2023 count of 93,600 birds. While the number of mallards (45,100) and black ducks (24,200) were close to their respective 5-year averages (50,800, and 21,760), the number of green-winged teal counted in 2024 (17,500) was much higher than recent years.
The 2024 mid-winter survey was conducted during the first two weeks of January, just prior to the cold weather that occurred later in the month. The timing of the survey flights likely led to lower diving duck counts than in 2023 (190,300). Biologists counted 350,500 Canada geese in the 2024 survey effort which was slightly higher than both the 320,800 geese counted in 2023 and the 5-year average (321,960).
The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually since the early 1960s and covers most of the tidal shorelines and near-shore waterfowl habitat in Maryland (see below for survey results from the last 5 years).
Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results 2019-2024*
Figures rounded to the nearest hundred
Species
2019
2020
2022
2023
2024
Mallard
39,000
56,000
53,500
56,800
45,100
Black Duck
17,200
21,000
24,600
21,800
24,200
Gadwall
4,800
10,800
6,800
3,400
2,600
Widgeon
1,200
1,100
300
1,900
500
Green-winged teal
1,500
2,000
6,900
6,200
17,500
Shoveler
100
300
900
200
100
Pintail
600
1,800
4,600
3,300
1,300
Total Dabblers
64,400
93,000
97,600
93,600
91,300
Redhead
20,600
10,600
7,000
12,800
10,000
Canvasback
46,000
46,900
7,700
57,800
18,800
Scaup
72,100
59,000
29,500
74,000
28,400
Ring-necked duck
1,100
3,000
2,100
6,200
7,000
Goldeneye
100
300
100
400
300
Bufflehead
13,200
11,400
10,600
16,800
16,300
Ruddy duck
28,900
18,500
22,400
22,300
39,500
Total Divers
182,000
149,700
79,400
190,300
120,300
Scoters
27,800
5,700
1,300
3,400
1,800
Long-tailed Duck
300
200
100
100
100
Mergansers
2,000
2,300
1,400
1,700
1,900
Total Ducks
276,500
250,900
179,800
289,100
215,400
Brant
900
900
200
400
1,100
Snow Goose
34,700
40,900
13,600
12,500
16,100
Canada Goose
250,200
327,200
361,100
320,800
350,500
Tundra Swan
4,000
7,100
7,400
7,300
9,600
Total Waterfowl
566,300
627,000
563,800
632,200
593,200
*The survey was not conducted in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.
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