extensive beds of submerged aquatic plants 
except in the shallower zones near the shores. 
Exposed stretches of slightly brackish estua- 
rine bays occur along the shores of Chesa-~ 
peake Bay below the Sassafras River. Sub-« 
merged plants are somewhat scarce in this 
area because of severe wave action. A few 
estuarine river marshes, of the fresh and 
transitional fresh-brackish types, are scat- 
tered throughout the section. The largest 
river marsh is at the head of the Elk River 
estuary, below Elkton. 
The Upper Eastern Shore section is in a 
heavily agricultural area, where large grain 
fields are adjacent to most of the natural 
habitats. 
Waterfowl 
Canada Geese are the principal waterfowl. 
Most of them are in or near the Sassafras 
River, especially in the Turner Creek area. 
Many also concentrate in the Bohemia River 
area, Mallards, Black Ducks, American Widg- 
eons, and Canvasbacks are common in vari- 
ous areas of this section, but other species 
are comparatively scarce. 
January inventory data during the years 
1955-58 show that the wintering population 
ranged from 30,100 in 1958 to 138,700 in 
1955, averaged 61,800. Periodic surveys dur- 
ing the 1958-59 season show that the popula- 
tion peak (50,000) was reached inearly spring. 
Proportions of the different species are 
shown in table 26. Canada Geese made up more 
than half of the waterfowl population through- 
out the survey period. Dabbling ducks were 
commonest during the fall and early spring, 
when good-sized flocks of Mallards and Black 
Ducks were present. Occasionally, fair num- 
bers of Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, 
and Wood Ducks were recorded in some 
of the estuarine river marshes, 
CHESTER RIVER SECTION 
Habitats 
The principal habitat of the Chester River 
section is the brackish estuarine bay of the 
lower Chester River. The tidewaters in this 
section are somewhat fresher than the tide- 
waters in otherwise similar areas of Eastern 
Bay and Choptank River sections, Brackish 
estuarine bay marshes are scattered along the 
lower portion of the river, and brackish 
estuarine river marshes along the more narrow 
upper stretch. 
The great beds of submerged aquatic vege- 
tation are not far from large fields of corn, 
wheat, barley, rye, and soybeans in the ad- 
joining farmlands. Artificial ponds also are 
present on many of the farms. 
27 
Waterfowl 
The Chester River section is the most 
important waterfowl area in the entire Upper 
Chesapeake region. 
January inventory data during the years 
1955-58 show that the wintering population 
ranged from 75,800 in 1958 to 399,800 in 1955, 
averaged 200,800. During the 1958-59 season, 
the population peak (208,700) was reached in 
late fall. Proportions of the various species 
at different seasons are shown in table 27. 
The greatest populations of most species were 
found during late fall and winter. Geese and 
dabbling ducks together made up more than 
three-fourths of the Chester River popula- 
tions. Black Ducks were common throughout 
the survey period. Canada Geese and Mallards 
were common during late fall, winter, and 
early spring; Pintails throughout fall and early 
spring; American Widgeons during the early 
fall; and Canvasbacks in winter. 
Canada Geese, Mallards, and Black Ducks 
usually are abundant where the open estuarine 
bays adjoin fields, Pintails are oftennumerous 
also. Whistling Swans, American Widgeons, 
and Canvasbacks are common and generally 
distributed in the brackish estuarine bay, to 
which they usually are restricted. Large local 
concentrations of dabbling ducks of various 
species occur in the brackish bay and river 
marshes. Canada Geese, Mallards, and Pin- 
tails often rest or roost on the artificial im- 
poundments of the farms. Mallards are more 
abundant in the Chester River section than 
in the similar parts of the Eastern Bay or 
Choptank sections, perhaps because of fresher 
water, or perhaps because thousands of game- 
farm Mallards are released each year at 
Remington Farms in Kent County. Black Ducks 
commonly breed in this section during late 
spring and summer. Most of them are in the 
lower portion of the Chester River along the 
margins of the brackish estuarine bay and in 
the scattered brackish estuarine bay marshes. 
EASTERN BAY SECTION 
Habitats 
The principal habitat of the Eastern Bay 
section is a large shallow estuarine bay, 
typically brackish, that contains an abundant 
growth of submerged plants, Several fair- 
sized tracts of brackish estuarine bay marsh 
are present along the margins of the bay. 
The area is surrounded by extensive agri- 
cultural lands. 
Waterfowl 
This section is an important concentration 
area for a. considerable variety of water- 
fowl. 
