ABSTRACT 



Information on the seasonal distribution and abundance of 41 species of 

 waterfowl of the order Anseriformes that occur in the coastal southeastern 

 United States has been compiled and mapped from the literature. In many in- 

 stances this provides the first synthesis of knowledge about a species for 

 this region. For the species we consider most important in coastal areas we 

 also provide information on world-wide distribution, habitat, food, and vari- 

 ous aspects of life history. This information was gathered in an attempt to 

 assess the possible effects of offshore oil development on populations of 

 marine birds in the southeast. 



The susceptibility of birds to oil depends not only on their juxtaposi- 

 tion in time and space, but also on currents and climatic factors and on the 

 stage of the life or annual cycle and the behavior of the species. Contamina- 

 tion by oil may result in matting of the feathers with death following from 

 chilling, starvation, and the ingestion of oil during preening. Among the 

 birds covered by this report, the sea ducks and diving ducks are considered 

 the most susceptible to oil pollution in the southeast. Most of the other 

 ducks, geese, and swans covered in the report are relatively insusceptible to 

 oil pollution because they are seldom found in areas where oiling is likely 

 to occur. 



One of the conclusions reached by this report is that we know very little 

 about the status and populations of some of the anatids that occur in the 

 southeast. Some of these species (e.g., the scoters) are among those that may 

 be expected to be most detrimentally affected by development of oil resources. 

 In general, most species that are widely hunted are relatively well studied, 

 but much is unknown of those that are not game birds. 



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