[va-bird] Preliminary Results Potomac Basin Waterfowl Count, Dec. 7, 2002

Preliminary Results Potomac Basin Waterfowl Count, Dec. 7, 2002

Fairfax Audubon Society sponsored a waterfowl count extending over the Potomac 
River basin area in the larger metropolitan DC area Dec. 7, 2002.  The count 
totally encompassed the District of Columbia, Arlington and Fairfax Counties 
and included cities and covered large percentages of Loudoun and Prince William 
Counties.  Portions of Montgomery, Prince Georges, Charles and Fauquier 
counties were also included.  25 teams and over 75 people covered these areas.  
There was a significant freeze and snowfall before the count and nearly all 
ponds and marshes were frozen on count day – essentially, only large bodies 
of water and rivers and streams were unfrozen.  Some areas early in the morning 
of count day were affected by thick fog.

Most populous species was Canada Goose, with over 29,000 tallied.  The next 
most populous species was, technically, Mallard with over 5,600 noted.  But, 
Lesser Scaup probably outnumbered Mallards as over 5,100 Lessers were counted 
along with 2,500+ scaup sp. where most of the latter are likely Lesser.  Both 
Snow Goose (DC) and Brant (Fairfax Co. piedmont) were tallied on the count, 
both of which are decidedly rare at the beginning of December in the count 
area.  Most significant miss was Common Loon, whose regional numbers may have 
been greatly affected by the freeze/snowfall a few days before the count.  No 
scoters or Long-tailed Ducks were noted.  With regard to other species, 7 of 
the Great Egrets were at T. Roosevelt Island; the others were at Hunting Cr. 
Bay.

Other interesting species noted were Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Greater 
Yellowlegs, and Dunlin. 

The following are preliminary totals for the count, also broken down by state.  
A full summary and report will be available in the early spring.

Kurt Gaskill

Species         Total   VA  MD
Pied-billed Grebe   101 36  65
Horned Grebe        10  5   5
DC Cormorant        128 47  81
Great Egret     9   2   7
Snow Goose      1   0   1
Canada Goose        29112   19711   9401
Brant           1   1   0
Mute Swan       5   5   0
Tundra Swan     1130    213 917
Wood Duck       24  20  4
Gadwall         586 25  561
Am. Wigeon      49  8   41
Am. Black Duck      2297    1164    1133
Mallard         5610    3169    2441
Am. Bl. Duck/Mall hyb.  3   2   1
No. Shoveler        175 23  152
No. Pintail     523 23  500
Green-winged Teal   282 133 149
Canvasback      77  8   69
Redhead         9   0   9
Ring-necked Duck    1701    177 1524
Greater Scaup       12  0   12
Lesser Scaup        5113    1416    3697
scaup. sp.      2512    1   2511
Bufflehead      388 80  308
Com. Goldeneye      4   1   3
Hooded Merganser    710 410 300
Common Merganser    711 289 422
Ruddy Duck      722 147 575

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