Chesapeake Bay News

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have released the results of the 2010 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey. Each winter, pilots and biologists from the two agencies count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast. In January 2010, the survey teams observed 787,100 waterfowl, slightly lower than the number of waterfowl observed in January 2009.

“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of most waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Larry Hindman, DNR Waterfowl Project Leader.

The number of mallards counted in this year’s survey (34,200) was significantly lower than 2009 (58,300). The black duck count (22,500) slightly declined from last winter, when 24,900 were counted.
“Extensive ice coverage of Chesapeake Bay waters, rivers and estuarine marshes led to reduced open water and lower numbers for several duck species this year,” Hindman said.

Overall, fewer diving ducks were counted (102,000) in 2010 than last winter (157,600). Most of this decline can be attributed to the lower numbers of redheads, canvasbacks, scaup and ruddy ducks observed. Extensive ice in the Chester River prevented diving duck use of this major wintering area favored by canvasbacks and scaup. Other environmental factors that influence the number of canvasbacks and other divers in the Chesapeake Bay are the conditions of the staging areas on the upper Mississippi River and Lake St. Claire in southern Ontario. Above average numbers of canvasbacks were recorded on surveys of those areas this year.

There was a slight increase in number of Canada geese counted by the survey crews. Despite a poor nesting season, wintering Canada geese (519,500) remained high and were likely bolstered by migrant geese pushed south by cold temperatures and snow north of Maryland.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually throughout the United States since the early 1950s. The survey provides information on long-term trends in waterfowl populations and is the only source of population estimates for important species such as Atlantic brant and tundra swans.

source: MD DNR press release

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has reviewed all public input and finalized the 2009-2010 late waterfowl hunting seasons.

“As always, public input helped guide our decisions,” said Paul Peditto, Director of DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service. “The individuals who took the time to attend our public meeting and provide comments through our online forum should be commended.”

Good breeding habitat conditions should result in a large fall flight of ducks this year. The 60-day duck season includes three segments, running from October 17 to October 24, November 14 to November 27, and December 15 to January 30. The daily bag limit will be six ducks per day.

One change this year is an increase in the daily bag limits for certain diving ducks. “The breeding population of canvasbacks increased 38 percent to 660,000 birds this year and scaup numbers were above four million for the first time in nearly a decade,” said Larry Hindman, DNR’s Waterfowl Project Leader. “As a result, diving duck hunters may take two scaup and one canvasback per day as part of their six duck limit.”

The 2009 spring breeding pair survey of Atlantic Population (migratory) Canada geese was 176,600 compared to 169,700 in 2008. Unfortunately, spring snowmelt was delayed over most of the Atlantic Population (AP) breeding range in northern Quebec resulting in reduced nesting effort and poor gosling production. Thus, the 2009 AP Canada goose season remains unchanged from last year at 45 days with a daily bag limit of two geese. The season will be split into two segments, from November 21 to November 27 and from December 17 to January 30.

The greater snow goose breeding population reached an all time high this spring with 1.4 million birds. “Unlike the poor nesting conditions for Canada geese, conditions were favorable for greater snow geese,” said Hindman. “Thus, the fall flight should be one of the largest ever, approaching 2 million birds.”

Greater and lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese are collectively referred to as ‘light geese’. A Light Goose Conservation Order season will immediately follow the conclusion of the regular light goose hunting season this year. During the Conservation Order season hunters may use unplugged shotguns, electronic calls and hunt from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset with no daily bag or possession limits.

“The intent of the liberal Conservation Order season is to significantly reduce light goose populations,” said Hindman. “The Atlantic Flyway greater snow goose population is more than twice the desired population size. A reduced population will help minimize the ecological and agricultural damage caused by the current over-abundance of light geese.”

Waterfowl hunters participating in the Light Goose Conservation Order season must possess a Snow Goose Conservation Order Hunting Season permit which may be obtained for $5 from any DNR sport license agent, online at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/, or by phone (1-800-918-2870). Participants must possess a valid Maryland hunting license (or resident Delaware license) and a 2009-2010 Maryland Migratory Game Bird Hunting Stamp.

All migratory game bird hunters, including landowners who are license-exempt, are required to obtain the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp. Hunters must possess the printed receipt showing proof of purchase of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp while hunting migratory game birds.

All waterfowl hunters age 16 and over must also purchase the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp) which must be signed and in possession while hunting waterfowl and coots. Hunters may obtain federal duck stamps at U.S. Post Offices, National Wildlife Refuges, certain DNR sport license agents and online at www.duckstamp.com. The Federal stamp is not required for the Light Goose Conservation season.

Non-toxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl and coots. Hunters may not possess or use non-toxic shot shells larger than size No. T or any lead shot shells while waterfowl hunting. Approved types of nontoxic shot and other information on migratory game bird hunting are listed in the 2009-2010 Guide to Hunting and Trapping in Maryland or on DNR’s website at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/index.asp.

The 2009-2010 late waterfowl season dates and bag limits will be published in the annual migratory game bird season synopsis and distributed to DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service offices and sport license agents in mid-September. For more information about the 2009-2010 Maryland Late Waterfowl Seasons and Bag Limits submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/lwfchart.asp.

source: DNR press release

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that the September teal hunting season will be from September 16 to September 30, 2009.

“The teal season provides a unique opportunity for hunters to pursue these early migrants before the regular duck season opens in mid-October,” said Larry Hindman, DNR’s Waterfowl Project Leader. “The early teal season is offered to states that derive more than 80 percent of their annual blue-winged teal harvest from birds migrating from the prairie pothole region of the north-central U.S and southern Canada. In 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Breeding Waterfowl and Habitat Survey recorded about 7.4 million blue-winged teal, which is well above the long term average.”

The daily bag limit during the September teal season is four teal (blue-winged or green-winged teal singly, or in aggregate). The special teal season will be held only in the following areas: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties; that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895, Interstate 97 and Route 3; that part of Prince George’s County east of Route 3 and Route 301; and that part of Charles County east of Route 301 to the Virginia line.

Shooting hours for the September teal season are sunrise to sunset. Shooting hours have been modified to avoid the traditional pre-sunrise hunting period when non-teal species, particularly wood ducks, are most active. Hunters are prohibited from shooting at non-teal duck species during this special season.

All hunters who participate in the September teal season, including landowners who are license exempt, are required to obtain the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp/HIP Permit. Hunters must possess the printed receipt showing proof of purchase of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp/HIP Permit while hunting migratory game birds.

All waterfowl hunters age 16 and over must possess the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (federal duck stamp). Hunters are still required to sign the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp and have it in their possession while hunting waterfowl. Hunters may obtain federal duck stamps at U.S. Post Offices, National Wildlife Refuges, DNR sport license agents, or online at www.duckstamp.com.

Hunters can purchase hunting licenses and Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamps/HIP Permits online through DNR’s website, https://www3.wildlifelicense.com/md/ or over the phone at 1-800-918-2870. These new services compliment the existing 320 retail vendors that currently sell licenses, permits and stamps.

Waterfowl hunters are reminded that nontoxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl and coots. Hunters may not possess or use nontoxic shotshells containing shot larger than size T or use or possess any lead shotshells while waterfowl hunting. Approved types of nontoxic shot and other information on migratory game bird hunting are listed in the 2009-2010 Guide to Hunting and Trapping in Maryland or on DNR’s website at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/index.asp

Hunters are encouraged to report banded migratory game birds by calling toll-free 1-800-327-BAND (2263). Banded birds can also be reported online at: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl.

A painting by Wally Makuchal Jr. entitled “Icy Refuge” will become the 2009-2010 Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp. The entry shows a pair of blue-winged teal resting on the water. It was judged as the best of 35 entries from 18 Maryland artists.

“This was one of the more exciting contests in recent history as the panel of expert judges remained deadlocked after the final round,” said Doug Wigfield, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Stamp Contest Coordinator.

Mr. Makuchal has taken part in Maryland’s “Duck Stamp” competition since the early 80s and was the winner in 1999. He also took top honors in the 1996 Maryland Trout Stamp Contest. He owns and operates Makuchal Signs out of Girdletree, MD.

The small Eastern Shore town of Girdletree has produced three Maryland Duck Stamp winners: Wally, his brother Paul and Roger Lent. All three are also two-time winners of Maryland’s contest.

You can order a print of this years winning entry by visiting his website at www.makuchalsigns.com or by calling 410-632-2825.

The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest showcases the talents of the gifted artists that reside near Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The stamps produced are a required purchase by all who hunt migratory game birds. The proceeds from the $9.00 stamps are used to fund migratory game bird research and habitat enhancement on the state’s public lands. More than $4 million in stamp sales have been spent on migratory game projects since the stamps inception in 1974.

The contest is limited to Maryland residents. The 2009 event took place at the 20th Patuxent Wildlife Art Show held in March at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have released the results of the 2009 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey. Each winter, pilots and biologists from the two agencies count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast. In January of 2009, the survey teams observed a total of 836,900 waterfowl, similar to the number of waterfowl observed in January 2008.

“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of most waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Larry Hindman, DNR Waterfowl Project Leader. “More typical winter weather led to higher numbers recorded for a few species this year.”

There was a notable increase in number of Canada geese counted by the survey crews.

The higher winter Canada goose count (498,200), was due to a combination of good gosling production from Northern Quebec nesting areas, snow cover and cold temperatures north of Maryland that pushed geese south to the Chesapeake in search of open water and winter foods.

Canada goose estimates reflect a mix of resident and migrant goose stocks, so these survey estimates are not used to set hunting regulations. Hunting regulations change with the population status of Atlantic and Resident populations of Canada geese. These numbers are tracked using breeding population and productivity surveys that are conducted each spring.

The number of mallards counted in this year’s survey (58,300) was similar to 2008 (55,500). Black duck numbers (24,900) also remained unchanged from last winter when 23,000 were counted. Overall, diving ducks numbers were similar to last winter with one exception: scaup numbers were significantly lower (51,600) compared to the 150,000 that were observed on the 2008 survey.

This year’s drop in scaup numbers in the Maryland portion of the Bay may be related to environmental factors influencing migration, but the continental population of lesser scaup has been experiencing a significant long-term decline.

The precise reasons for the decline are unknown; factors under investigation include reduced food resources, declining water quality, contaminants on spring migration stopovers and degradation of breeding habitat in the boreal forest. Climate change may also be negatively influencing food resources on boreal forest and coastal habitats.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually throughout the United States since the early 1950s. The survey provides information on long-term trends in waterfowl populations and is the only source of population estimates for important species such as Atlantic brant and tundra swans. The survey also provides supplementary information on other waterfowl species for which annual breeding population and harvest information is available.

The Maryland Midwinter Waterfowl Survey numbers from 2005 to 2009 are listed online here:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2009/030909a.html

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Shoreline Heritage Service announced that shoreline license applications are now being accepted from riparian (waterfront) property owners. Anyone owning riparian property, or those with permission from the property owner, may license shoreline for the purpose of establishing stationary blinds or blind sites for hunting waterfowl. Applications may also be used to prevent others from licensing the shoreline at a later date.

All applications and fees must be submitted by mail or in person and received by the close of business June 1, 2009. Riparian property owners may license their shoreline for a period of one year for a $20 fee or three years for a $60 fee. Landowners who miss the June 1 deadline may participate in the “open” licensing process that begins August 4, 2009.

Applications and information on laws related to shoreline licensing for riparian property owners are available at the DNR website www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/riparian.html or by calling the Wildlife and Heritage Service at 410-260-8540, toll free at 1-877-620-8DNR (8367).

source: DNR press release

Each winter, pilots and biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast as part of the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey.

During January of 2008, biologists observed a total of 821,500 waterfowl, which represents a substantial increase from counts during the mild winters of 2006 and 2007.

“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Paul Peditto, Director of DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service. “More typical winter weather lead to higher numbers recorded for several species this year.”

The most notable increase was large numbers of mallards and blackducks. Other increased populations included redheads, scaup and canvasbacks.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey is conducted at the same time each winter in every state in the Atlantic Flyway, from Maine to Florida. Most of the Maryland’s tidewater waterfowl habitats were surveyed between January 4 and 10, but Bloodsworth and South Marsh Islands were not completed until January 23.

source: MD-DNR press release