cold, windy days were prevalent during the survey period. 
Food availability was generally good. 
Total waterfowl numbers were 5% above the 1978 level 
but were 1% below the 10-year mean. Diving ducks, sea 
ducks, geese, and swans all showed increases compared 
with the 1978 survey results. However, a substantial de- 
crease in redheads was noted (93,646 vs. 147,649); canvas- 
backs showed a 23% increase. The diving ducks as a group 
were below the 10-year mean (—4%), whereas sea ducks 
were 10% above the 10-year mean; eiders accounted for 
63% of the sea duck total. Total duck estimates increased 
6% compared with 1978 but were 3% below the 10-year 
mean. 
Goose populations continued to increase in the flyway 
(+2% compared with 1978), but increases in snow goose 
(Chen caerulescens) estimates were countered by slight de- 
clines in Canada goose and brant (Branta bernicla) esti- 
mates (-1% and —6%, respectively, compared with 
1978 estimates). The brant, still at very low numbers, 
were 53% below the 10-year mean. 
Puddle ducks declined 6% below the 1978 estimates and 
were 5% below the 10-year mean. Black ducks were 12% 
below last year’s estimate and 13% below the 10-year 
mean. Although a substantial increase in green-winged 
teal (Anas crecca carolinensis) was noted compared with 
1978 (+ 24%), the species is 21 % below the 10-year mean. 
American wigeon (Anas americana) estimates for both 
periods also were substantially reduced. 
Of particular interest was the welfare of the New Jersey- 
wintering Atlantic brant, which were so drastically re- 
duced in numbers during the 1977 winter starvation 
period (about 80,000 birds lost). Sea lettuce was present in 
great quantities this year and brant remained in excellent 
physical condition throughout January. Ice coverage 
created by a severe cold spell in February had little effect 
on the brant. Because of their excellent physical condition, 
the birds (about 30,000) responded by moving south into 
Chincoteague and Sinetuxent bays in Virginia and Mary- 
land where they remained until early March. 
Mexico — East Coast-Rio Grande Delta to 
Northeastern Yucatan 
Data supplied by Arthur Brazda and William Larned 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
The waterfowl survey of the east coast of Mexico 
covered the area from the Rio Grande Delta at Mata- 
moras, State of Tamaulipas (near Brownsville, Texas), to 
Isla Holbox, located on the northeast tip of the State of 
Yucatan. The adequate habitat conditions were similar to 
January 1978, though somewhat drier in a portion of the 
Rio Grande Delta and in the northern part of the Laguna 
Madre-Tamaulipas Lagoons unit. Total ducks were up 
23% over 1978; dabblers were 63% higher and divers 
29% lower. The large number of dabblers was due pri- 
marily to the increase in blue-winged teal (+ 102%), 
whereas the decrease in divers was the result of substantial 
drops in redheads (— 26%) and lesser scaup (— 35 %). The 
Laguna Madre-Tamaulipas Lagoons, Tabasco Lagoons, 
and the Campeche-Yucatan Lagoons were responsible for 
71% of the ducks observed. Total geese increased 36% 
over 1978; 92% (49,435) were observed in the Rio Grande 
Delta. 
Mexico — Interior Highlands and Lower West Coast 
Data supplied by Douglas Benning and Rossalius Hanson 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
The winter waterfowl survey of the Mexico interior 
highlands and the lower west coast was conducted during 
10-22 January 1979. This year’s survey was complete and 
comparable to the 1978 survey. The expanded coverage 
for Mexican ducks was continued in 1979. Waterfowl hab- 
itat was almost normal throughout most of the survey 
regions; however, above-normal water levels prevailed 
throughout much of the north central highlands. Overall 
duck estimates fell below those of 1978 in the interior 
highlands (—35%) and along the lower west coast 
(—76%). The Mexican duck estimate was down 36% 
from 1978. Snow geese were up slightly (+ 7%) but white- 
fronted geese were down (23%). Survey data from the 
Lower West Coast is included in the West Coast totals in 
Table A-3. 
West Coast and Baja California 
Data supplied by K. Duane Norman and Bruce Conant 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
The survey this year was initiated on 11 January 1979 
and was completed on 21 January. The areas surveyed 
were identical to those surveyed during the last 2 years. A 
total of 11.755 km were flown in 47:55 hours during the 
11-day period. No major changes in waterfowl habitat 
were observed on the west mainland coast or the west Baja 
coast since last year. Because of the abnormal rainfall 
since last fall, many new water areas existed between 
Guaymas and E] Dorado on the mainland and on the west 
side of Baja; however, waterfowl were not attracted to 
these water areas. Dabblers decreased (-— 19%) from 
1978. as did the divers (— 23%). Total ducks decreased 
19% from 1978. Greatest increases in numbers from 1978 
were in the scoters, Melanitta spp. (+151%), black- 
bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna a. autumnalis 
(+ 107%), wigeon (+ 10%), and bufflehead, Bucephala 
albeola (+ 13%). Canada geese, absent for several years, 
were again observed on the Colorado River delta area. 
White-fronted geese increased (+ 77%) from 1978, as did 
snow geese (+ 21%). Brant were less numerous in the 
Tiberon unit, but more than normal numbers were found 
in the Obregon and Agiabampo units. Brant numbers 
