Waterfowl Status Report 1979 
Compiled and Edited by 
James F, Voelzer, Elizabeth Q. Lauxen, 
Sharon L. Rhoades, and kK. Duane Norman 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Office of Migratory Bird Management 
Section of Waterfowl Population Surveys 
Columbia, Missouri 65201 
This report contains information from the 1978-79 mid- 
winter waterfowl survey, the 1979 waterfowl breeding 
population and production surveys, and the waterfowl 
harvest surveys for the 1978-79 hunting season. This 
information was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and various co- 
operating State wildlife conservation agencies. Winter 
surveys are composed of the midwinter survey reports sub- 
mitted from each of the four flyways and the midwinter 
survey covering all of Mexico. The breeding ground sur- 
veys section is composed of many individual reports that 
provide breeding population and production estimates for 
most waterfowl species within a major portion of their 
breeding range. The waterfowl] harvest survey provides 
estimates of waterfowl hunting activity and success. Infor- 
mation from surveys of the wintering and breeding popu- 
lations of waterfowl, coupled with data from the annual 
harvest survey, are instrumental in developing annual 
hunting regulations for waterfowl. 
Credit has been given to each individual or organization 
that submitted a report. Although some of the narrative 
statements have been condensed and a few tables deleted 
or condensed if they contain data presented elsewhere in 
this report, the essential information from each report has 
been retained. The breeding grounds survey strata (Fig. 1) 
for areas surveyed by Fish and Wildlife Service crews were 
renumbered in 1974. 
Winter Survey 
A comprehensive survey of North American waterfowl 
on their wintering grounds is attempted each January by 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel, assisted in the 
United States by State conservation departments and pri- 
vate individuals, in Canada by the Canadian Wildlife 
Service, and in Mexico by the Direccion General de la 
Fauna Silvestre. 
The U.S. winter survey was initiated in 1933 and, for 14 
years, was the only source of extensive inventory data re- 
lating to waterfowl distribution and abundance. With the 
development of spring breeding ground surveys, com- 
mencing in 1947, less emphasis was placed on the winter 
survey. It continues, however, to furnish valuable infor- 
mation. 
eThe winter survey provides the only direct means of 
monitoring the status of species not covered adequately by 
the spring surveys, such as the black duck (Anas rubripes) 
and brant (Branta bernicla). 
°Winter survey data complement data from the spring 
surveys for important but less abundant species such as the 
redhead (Aythya americana) and canvasback (A. valisi- 
neria). 
elt helps define the distribution and species composition 
of wintering flocks. Long-term data give insight into 
changes in migration patterns and wintering areas. 
eData are frequently used in land acquisition and 
refuge decisions. It can be argued that waterfowl use is a 
good indicator of the value of an area. 
eSurvey data support continuing research efforts by 
providing an indication of waterfowl distribution and 
relative abundance. 
e Winter survey data are often used in the preparation of 
environmental impact assessments. The Mexican winter 
surveys began in the early 1950’s and were run annually 
through 1965, with the exception of 1957. Fram 1965 
through 1976, complete surveys were attempted only once 
every 5 years, Only black brant (Branta bernicla nigri- 
cans) habitat on the west coast was surveyed each year 
from 1965 to 1976. Since 1977, however, complete surveys 
have been conducted each vear. Winter survey data 
appear in Tables A-1, A-2, and A-3. 
The following are summaries of survey reports from the 
various flyways and Mexico. 
