Extended Fall Drought Impacts Lloyd Center’s December 2024 Waterfowl Count

Jamie winter waterfowl count
On December 1, 2024, Lloyd Center staff and volunteers embarked on the 38th Annual Lloyd Center Winter Waterfowl Survey in southeast New England, which covers 22 coastal systems from Tiverton, RI, to Dartmouth, MA. Click here for background (Figure 1, Table 1). As has become routine in recent years, unusual climate-related trends likely influenced the abundance of birds counted for December 2024.
In contrast to December 2023, when rain events caused a postponement, an extended drought that created fire hazards also reduced availability of freshwater as water tables dropped. And while November 2024 was balmy, this count had the first traces of ice in over four years, for at least a winter feel on count day. A late month cold stretch including snowstorms and deeper cold to the north, and some freezing of shallower wetlands in our milder region, further reduced quantity of freshwater feeding habitat.
The total of 5063 waterfowl was slightly higher (+244) than last year’s December count, even though the Canada Goose numbers (-351) were the lowest for December in a decade. While we can’t determine if outside population-related factors are affecting numbers for our local goose population that is often the main source of December numbers, we know open fields and still available freshwater reduce the need for saline habitats. Mute Swans, the other large surface feeder, declined slightly (-61) with the largest flock seen in Quicksand Pond (43).
The increase observed this year was due to higher duck numbers, primarily certain divers. Hooded Mergansers, Red-breasted Mergansers, and scaup species all increased for the count. The scaup and Red-breasted Mergansers breed further north into Canada than the Hooded Mergansers, and therefore likely endured a considerable freeze at their breeding grounds. Hooded Mergansers breed locally and have increased in Massachusetts due to nest box use, and prefer shallower wetlands that freeze more quickly under milder conditions. Both factors likely contributed to their increase this season. Largest flocks were seen at Salters Pond (29), The Westport River south of Hix Bridge (28), and Nonquit Marsh (23).
The one diver declining considerably were Ruddy Ducks (-254), which breed further west than many species. It’s uncertain whether habitat conditions in breeding grounds are impacting abundance, or this tightly flocking species congregated somewhere outside our study area. American Wigeon, a species increasing over time, also declined (-143), perhaps like geese finding food in grassy fields. Their counterpart, Gadwall, that’s also increasing, showed little change for this survey. Bufflehead showed little change and were most abundant in flowing estuaries, with highest numbers seen south of Hix Bridge (270) in the Westport River and in Apponagansett Bay (220).
Green-winged Teal are scarce for this survey, but a sizeable flock was found in Allens Pond (60). Like “Hoodies” they prefer shallow wetlands and surely lost isolated wetland habitat to the drought, and may be the strongest indicator of drought impacts. American Black Ducks increased slightly (+204) but were only numerous at Little River (379), an optimum feeding area at low tide when these birds were seen. Black Ducks were relatively sparse at other sites with only the Westport River south of Hix bridge (77) and the Slocum (75), flowing estuaries preferred by the species, having moderate counts.

Black ducks dabbling on the Slocum
Like last year, the Westport River south of Hix bridge (667) and Apponagansett Bay (640) had the highest abundance, with numbers in each system similar to last year, the Slocum River (539) having the next highest count. So flowing estuaries had considerably higher totals than salt ponds this year. The top two sites had the highest Bufflehead totals with the Westport section also having the second larges flocks of both Canada Geese and Black Ducks. The highest Red-breasted Merganser counts occurred at Apponagansett Bay (198) and the Slocum River (177) with the Slocum also having the third highest Bufflehead count of all sites. So the most common waterfowl continue to determine sites with the highest abundance levels.
Stay tuned for the “winter” count in January, when more migrants have arrived!