January 2013 waterfowl estimates
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries waterfowl biologists conducted aerial surveys Jan. 11, 18 & 22 in the Southwest and Southeast coastal zones and Jan. 23 over the Cathoula Lake area and a special Jan. 13 survey for scaup. These survey numbers are compared with the November 2012, December 2012 and January 2012 survey estimates. Listed first are “dabbling” duck species, then “diving” duck species, then coots (poule d’eau).
* fewer than 1,000 of that species seen in survey area.
Species Southwest Southeast Catahoula Lake Totals
MALLARD 176,000 4,000 1,000 181,000
Dec. 2012 65,000 3,000 13,000 81,000
Nov. 2012 13,000 2,000 2,000 17,000
Jan. 2012 83,000 21,000 * 104,0000
MOTTLED DUCKS 28,000 23,000 ---- 51,000
Dec. 2012 26,000 27,000 * 53,000
Nov. 2012 26,000 18,000 ---- 44,000
Jan. 2012 28,000 38,000 ---- 66,000
GADWALL 468,000 274,000 1,000 743,000
Dec. 2012 450,000 298,000 10,000 758,000
Nov. 2012 421,000 225,000 7,000 653,000
Jan. 2012 389,000 469,000 * 858,000
WIGEON 7,000 4,000 * 11,000
Dec. 2012 18,000 4,000 2,000 24,000
Nov. 2012 19,000 3,000 * 22,000
Jan. 2012 6,000 15,000 * 21,000
GREENWING TEAL 389,000 193,000 * 495,000
Dec. 2012 184,000 52,000 19,000 255,000
Nov. 2012 169,000 78,000 6,000 253,000
Jan. 2012 271,000 224,000 * 495,000
BLUEWING TEAL 35,000 21,000 ---- 56,000
Dec. 2012 26,000 8,000 * 34,000
Nov. 2012 24,000 9,000 * 33,000
Jan. 2012 16,000 72,000 ---- 88,000
SHOVELER 384,000 17,000 * 401,000
Dec. 2012 125,000 2,000 3,000 130,000
Nov. 2012 64,000 10,000 7,000 81,000
Jan. 2012 309,000 20,000 * 329,000
PINTAIL 81,000 10,000 * 91,000
Dec. 2012 107,000 4,000 108,000 219,000
Nov. 2012 212,000 13,000 78,000 303,000
Jan. 2012 50,000 54,000 * 104,000
Species Southwest Southeast Catahoula Lake Totals
TOTAL DABBLERS 1,568,000 546,000 2,000 2,115,000
Dec. 2012 1,001,000 398,000 155,000 1,554,000
Nov. 2012 948,000 358,000 100,000 1,406,000
Jan. 2012 1,152,000 913,000 1,000 2,066,000
SCAUP 140,000 85,000 * 225,000
Dec. 2012 99,000 56,000 1,000 156,000
Nov. 2012 15,000 9,000 ----- 24,000
Jan. 2012 16,000 171,000 1,000 188,000
RINGNECKS 149,000 41,000 3,000 193,000
Dec. 2012 95,000 172,000 27,000 294,000
Nov. 2012 15,000 16,000 2,000 31,000
Jan. 2012 17,000 370,000 11,000 398,000
CANVASBACK 5,000 46,000 36,000 87,000
Dec. 2012 ---- 1,000 56,000 57,000
Nov. 2012 ---- ---- ---- ----
Jan. 2012 ---- 58,000 82,000 140,000
TOTAL DIVERS 294,000 172,000 39,000 505,000
Dec. 2012 194,000 229,000 84,000 507,000
Nov. 2012 30,000 25,000 2,000 33,000
Jan. 2012 33,000 599,000 94,000 726,000
TOTAL DUCKS 1,862,000 718,000 41,000 2,621,000
Dec. 2012 1,195,000 627,000 239,000 2,061,000
Nov. 2012 978,000 383,000 102,000 1,463,000
Jan. 2012 1,185,000 1,512,000 95,000 2,792,000
COOTS 298,000 508,000 * 806,000
Dec. 2012 379,000 424,000 6,000 809,000
Nov. 2012 397,000 158,000 * 555,000
Jan. 2012 833,000 994,000 18,000 1,845,000
Source: Waterfowl Study Group, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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