The large increase in dabbling ducks (especially Blue-winged and American Green-winged Teal and Northern Shovelers) this year might be due an influx of birds which would normally breed further south. Unprecedented flocks of several hundred unpaired American Green-winged Teal were observed in mid-May between Kluane Lake and the Alaska border. The seventy percent increases in total numbers of Ring-necked Ducks and Canvasbacks but the lack of comparable increases in Scaup is puzzling and possibly a bit disturbing.

The Alaska-Yukon Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey (AYS; Conant and Groves 1998) is an annual aerial survey covering 11 major breeding areas in Alaska as well as Old Crow Flats in the Northern Yukon. The 1998 AYS also recorded large increases in waterfowl populations compared to 1997. The increases were about the same as those noted in the Yukon Roadside Survey (YRS) for diving ducks (23%), but much lower for dabbling ducks (41% versus 108% for the YRS).

Notwithstanding the generally lower water levels, the early, warm, dry spring and summer should result in a successful year for Yukon waterfowl populations.

This year the entire data analysis and report preparation process required only about seven person-days to complete.