32274 



Wintering Ground Survey 



A reduction in appropriations curtailed the extent of operations on the 

 wintering grounds and the work was confined entirely to the United States* 



A 



Peters devoted his attention to the concentrations on the Atlantic coast 

 particularly south of Chesapeake Bay; Smith worked in the lower Mississippi 

 Valley, and on the Gulf coast from Mobile Bay west to eastern Texas where he 

 connected with Saunders on the coast of that State; and Goldman devoted his 

 attention to the wintering' grounds of the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys of 

 California* 



Concentrations' were heavy in nearly every important area although in some 

 sections, notably in southern Louisiana, heavy invasions early in the season, 

 were followed by unexplained departures. Drought conditions in t he rice "grow- 

 ing area probably were a contributing factor, , 



January Inventory 



As was the case in 1942, shortages of personnel and facilities had their 

 effects upon this operation. Aviation from the Navy and Coast Guard was "made 

 available in sufficient quantity to assure almost normal coastal coverage, 

 but for seme important interior areas it was necessary to depend entirely 

 upon surface observations. In one or two cases there was also a complete 

 failure of State aid* Loss of trained personnel from Service ranks added 

 greatly to the "responsibility of those who were left but with the excellent 

 cooperation of both Federal and most State agencies a reasonably satisfactory 

 job was completed. 



The failure to obtain coverage of some vital areas that had heretofore 

 figured in each inventory, made necessary some changes in the methods of 

 analysis., Nevertheless, after a careful study of all regional. reports, and 

 with the aid of supplementary and explanatory information. furnished by agents 

 in certain critical areas, a continental estimate of - 119,600,000 waterfowl 

 was made, While admitting that, because of unusual circumstances, there is 

 possibility of a greater margin of error than has existed in previous inven- 

 tory estimates, it is nevertheless believed that the final figure for the 

 1943 inventory is sufficiently accurate for- practical purposes, namely, those 

 of sound administration., 



For the sake of those interested in knowing the relative abundance of 

 our ducks and gease, the Mallard is, of coarse, number one on the list. It is 

 followed in order by the Fintail,- Baldpate, Scaups .'both species considered to- 

 gether), Black; Duck, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Shoveller, Red- 

 head, V'ooo DvVikj Ring-necked Duck;' 3ufflehead, and Ruddy Duck* Among, the geese 

 the Canada G^ose/'with ix/s subspecies, places first, followed in order by the 

 Snow Gob se ^both species considered together), Blue Goose-, -White-fronted Goose, 

 Brant (both species). Cackling Goose, and Ross's Goose, 





