November ’12 waterfowl estimates
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries waterfowl biologists conducted aerial surveys Nov. 7-9 in the Southwest and Southeast coastal zones and Nov. 9 in the Catahoula Lake area to estimate waterfowl populations. These survey numbers are compared with the November 2011 and November 2010 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 Totals
MALLARD 13,000 2,000 2,000 17,000
Nov. 2011 5,000 3,000 1,000 9,000
Nov. 2010 18,000 6,000 25,000 49,000
MOTTLED DUCKS 26,000 18,000 ---- 44,000
Nov. 2011 27,000 39,000 * 66,000
Nov. 2010 31,000 34,000 - 65,000
GADWALL 421,000 225,000 7,000 653,000
Nov. 2011 594,000 126,000 10,000 730,000
Nov. 2010 469,000 107,000 34,000 610,000
WIGEON 19,000 3,000 * 22,000
Nov. 2011 6,000 23,000 1,000 30,000
Nov. 2010 8,000 - 2,000 10,000
GREENWING TEAL 169,000 78,000 6,000 253,000
Nov. 2011 168,000 31,000 6,000 205,000
Nov. 2010 55,000 82,000 12,000 149,000
BLUEWING TEAL 24,000 9,000 * 33,000
Nov. 2011 145,000 283,000 23,000 451,000
Nov. 2010 292,000 170,000 4,000 466,000
SHOVELER 64,000 10,000 7,000 81,000
Nov. 2011 118,000 23,000 2,000 143,000
Nov. 2010 22,000 9,000 26,000 57,000
PINTAIL 212,000 13,000 78,000 303,000
Nov. 2011 39,000 64,000 77,000 180,000
Nov. 2010 4,000 49,000 106,000 169,000
TOTAL DABBLERS 948,000 358,000 100,000 1,406,000
Nov. 2011 1,102,000 592,000 120,000 1,814,000
Nov. 2010 909,000 457,000 209,000 1,575,000
SCAUP 15,000 9,000 ----- 24,000
Nov. 2011 6,000 2,000 1,000 9,000
Nov. 2010 5,000 23,000 - 28,000
RINGNECKS 15,000 16,000 2,000 31,000
Nov. 2011 6,000 2,000 9,000 17,000
Nov. 2010 1,000 11,000 * 12,000
CANVASBACK ---- ---- ---- ----
Nov. 2011 ---- ---- 1,000 1,000
Nov. 2010 ---- ---- * *
TOTAL DIVERS 30,000 25,000 2,000 33,000
Nov. 2011 12,000 4,000 11,000 27,000
Nov. 2010 6,000 34,000 * 40,000
TOTAL DUCKS 978,000 383,000 102,000 1,463,000
Nov. 2011 1,114,000 596,000 131,000 1,841,000
Nov. 2010 915,000 491,000 209,000 1,624,000
COOTS 397,000 158,000 * 555,000
Nov. 2011 833,000 994,000 12,000 1,839,000
Nov. 2010 382,000 445,000 - 827,000
Source: Waterfowl Study Group, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries