The Waterfowl Report
December mallard survey in Delta totals continue downward trends from recent seasons in 2022
By Randy Zellers
AGFC Communications
Arkansas Geese Estimates about 1 Million
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s first aerial survey of the 202223 waterfowl season offered results close to expectations by biologists considering the dry conditions that plagued the state through the latter half of the fall. The good news was, it wasn’t the lowest December estimate of mallards since formal surveys began in 2009 — it was the second lowest.
However, it was about 15 percent than the nearrecord low December mallard count last year.
See DUCKS, page A10 DUCKS
From page A8
Biologists conducting transect- based surveys in the Delta estimated 566,456 total ducks, 326,064 of which were mallards, and 13,434 ducks in the Arkansas River Valley, including 6,719 mallards.
Biologists performing cruise surveys in southwest Arkansas reported an estimated 54,031 ducks with 10,109 mallards.
Arctic goose population estimates totaled 902,848 light (lesser snow and Ross’s) geese and 381,067 greater white-fronted geese (specklebellies) in the Delta.
Luke Naylor, the AGFC’s waterfowl program coordinator, stresses though that these aerial surveys are not typically as accurate for goose totals as they are for ducks.
Much like December 2021, dry conditions continue to play a major role in duck distribution and abundance. Habitat availability remains low as a result of almost no runoff, limited overbank flooding and low amounts of flooded agricultural fields although recent rains and colder temperatured could help push ducks back into Arkansas.
Habitat is almost exclusively limited to actively managed sites.
