
Each year in early August waterfowl shoot- 
ing regulations are established for the current 
hunting season. Most of the information 
presented in this report was considered inthe 
formulation of the regulations. Additional 
data have been compiled and presented to 
provide reference material relating to the 
status of waterfowl. 
Data on the status of North American 
waterfowl are collected by four major surveys 
each year: 
1, The waterfowl kill survey, a mail 
questionnaire of selected waterfowl 
hunters immediately after the hunt- 
ing season, to measure the size and 
species composition of the kill and 
effect of hunting regulations on 
activity and success, 
2. The wing collection survey, a sam- 
pling by mail of selected hunters who 
send in duck wings during the season 
to provide information on age ratios 
in the hunting kill. 
3, The’ winter Survey, a survey of 
waterfowl wintering areas on the 
North American Continent in early 
January to determine the distri- 
bution and relative numbers of birds 
remaining after the hunting season, 
WATERFOWL 
STATUS REPORT 
1963 
4, The breeding ground survey, a sur- 
vey of major continental breeding 
areas in May, June, and July to 
measure size and distribution of 
the breeding population and the rel- 
ative number of young produced, 

In recent years a fifth major data-collect- 
ing endeavor has been banding, particularly 
the banding of young birds on the breeding 
areas. The purpose of this banding is to 
relate breeding areas toharvest areas sothat 
data from breeding ground surveys can be 
accurately associated with the four waterfowl 
flyways for management purposes, 
Results of the winter and breeding ground 
surveys are summarized as forecasts of 
anticipated changes in the relative size of 
the 1963 fall flight of ducks, geese, brant, and 
coots in each of the four flywaysinthe United 
States, 
Because waterfowl management in the 
United States is based on the flyway concept, 
this report is organized accordingly. For 
purposes of this report, the four flyways have 
been extended beyond the international bound- 
aries of the United States to include breeding 
and wintering grounds of waterfowl most 
closely associated with the flyways. 
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATIONS AND 
METHODS USED 
WATERFOWL KILL SURVEY 
Data supplied by Robert G, Heath and M. Edwin Rosasco, 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 
Immediately after the hunting season 
each year, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries 
and Wildlife conducts a national mail 
questionnaire survey of waterfowl 
hunters designed to meet the following 
objectives: 
1. Estimate, at both flyway and State 
levels, the magnitude of the water- 
fowl harvest, the total number of 
hunters active during the season, 
the total number of hunter-days 
afield amassed by these hunters, 
Approved for publication, October, 1963 Special Scientific Report — Wildlife No. 75. 
