less hunting pressure than species constantly searching for 
food. By maintaining excellent body condition throughout the 
winter, geese were in good breeding condition on reaching 
nesting areas in northern Canada. Geese usually improve their 
breeding condition by feeding at James Bay, Canada before the 
final flight north. 
Some people are now concerned that increased hunting 
pressure on the Eastern Shore and abundant food resources in 
Pennsylvania and New York may result in fewer geese migrating to 
the DELMARVA peninsula. This "shortstopping" phenomenon began 
during the 1960s and resulted in reductions to the historically 
large goose populations in the Southeast, especially North 
Carolina. As long as there are abundant snow-free corn fields 
and ice-free water areas, Canada geese will minimize their 
southward migration, especially to areas that are heavily 
hunted. 
American Black Duck 
The black duck (Anas rubripes) has traditionally frequented 
the eastern coast, and large numbers have been recorded in the 
Chesapeake Bay (Table 1; Fig. 3). The highest number of black 
ducks in the Bay were recorded in 1955 (281,485) and the lowest 
in 1979 (28,820). The long-term average population was 84,197 
ducks. During the 1980s, the population averaged only 51,365 
ducks, which was 44% lower than the pre-1980s average of 91,379. 
During the 1950s, approximately half of the Atlantic Flyway 
black ducks were recorded in the Chesapeake Bay. During the 
1960s and 1970s only one third were recorded in the Bay, and 
during the 1980s less than one fourth of the Atlantic Flyway 
black ducks wintered in the Chesapeake Bay. Although black duck 
populations have declined most dramatically in the Chesapeake 
Bay, declines have been noted in all wintering areas of the 
Flyway. Surveys now record black ducks most frequently in 
coastal areas of New Jersey. 
During the 1950s, approximately 85% of the Maryland black 
ducks were recorded in sections of the Eastern Shore of the Bay, 
especially the Chester River (Stewart 1962). With the demise of 
the SAV, black ducks did not have an alternate food source 
readily available. Most black ducks in the Chesapeake Bay 
during recent years were found on fresh water areas of the 
Patuxent River and tributaries of the York and James Rivers. In 
these areas, black ducks fed on seeds of smartweeds (Polygonum 
spp•), rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), and other marsh plants 
(Perry and Uhler 1981). Small flocks of black ducks are also 
recorded throughout the cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) 
marshes in the brackish areas of the Bay. The salt marsh snail 
(Melampus bidentatus) is their predominant food. Black ducks 
have also been observed feeding on corn in agricultural areas 
near the Chester River (pers. comm. V.D. Stotts). 
148 
