January waterfowl estimates
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries waterfowl biologists aerial surveys conducted Jan. 3-5 in the coastal zone; Jan. 3 over Catahoula Lake; Jan. 11-12 and Jan. 15-15 in the northeastern parishes; Jan. 12 for the annual scaup survey; and Jan. 19 in the northwestern parishes to estimate waterfowl populations. These survey numbers are compared with the November 2011 and December 2011 survey estimates along with January 2011 totals. 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 83,000 21,000 * 104,000
Dec. 2011 62,000 15,000 20,000 97,0000
Nov. 2011 5,000 3,000 1,000 9,000
MOTTLED DUCKS 28,000 38,000 0 66,000
Dec. 2011 26,000 38,000 0 64,000
Nov. 2011 27,000 39,000 * 66,000
GADWALL 389,000 469,000 * 858,000
Dec. 2011 372,000 418,000 12,000 802,000
Nov. 2011 594,000 126,000 10,000 730,000
WIGEON 6,000 15,000 * 21,000
Dec. 2011 16,000 18,000 * 34,000
Nov. 2011 6,000 23,000 1,000 30,000
GREENWING TEAL 271,000 224,000 * 495,000
Dec. 2011 220,000 169,000 18,000 407,000
Nov. 2011 168,000 31,000 6,000 205,000
BLUEWING TEAL 16,000 72,000 0 88,000
Dec. 2011 30,000 70,000 * 100,000
Nov. 2011 145,000 283,000 23,000 451,000
SHOVELER 309,000 20,000 * 329,000
Dec. 2011 160,000 23,000 * 183,000
Nov. 2011 118,000 23,000 2,000 143,000
PINTAIL 50,000 54,000 * 104,000
Dec. 2011 108,000 43,000 82,000 233,000
Nov. 2011 39,000 64,000 77,000 180,000
TOTAL DABBLERS 1,152,000 913,000 1,000 2,066,000
Dec. 2011 994,000 794,000 132,000 1,920,000
Nov. 2011 1,102,000 592,000 120,000 1,814,000
SCAUP 16,000 171,000 1,000 188,000
Dec. 2011 41,000 152,000 7,000 200,000
Nov. 2011 6,000 2,000 1,000 9,000
RINGNECKS 17,000 370,000 11,000 398,000
Dec. 2011 58,000 144,000 38,000 240,000
Nov. 2011 6,000 2,000 9,000 17,000
CANVASBACK 0 58,000 82,000 140,000
Dec. 2011 31,000 32,000 63,000
Nov. 2011 0 0 1,000 1,000
TOTAL DIVERS 33,000 599,000 94,000 726,000
Dec. 2011 99,000 327,000 77,000 503,000
Nov. 2011 12,000 4,000 11,000 27,000
TOTAL DUCKS 1,185,000 1,512,000 95,000 2,792,000
Dec. 2011 1,093,000 1,121,000 209,000 2,423,000
Nov. 2011 1,114,000 596,000 131,000 1,841,000
Jan. 2011 1,757,000 1,406,000 121,000 3,284,000
COOTS 833,000 994,000 18,000 1,845,000
Dec. 2011 833,000 994,000 18,000 1,845,000
Nov. 2011 833,000 994,000 12,000 1,839,000
Source: Waterfowl Study Group, Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries