Waterbird Survey, 2011

Overview
The National Park Service and partners continue to monitor migratory waterbird populations as indicators of water and habitat quality within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

The 2011 fall monitoring season marked the third consecutive year of aerial surveys and ground counts above Pool 4 in the Mississippi River.

National Park Service ground counts on Red Rock Lake in St. Paul, MN found a decline in numbers and diversity of waterbirds in 2011, suggesting a decline in water or habitat quality from previous years.

Aerial surveys (FWS) further downstream found the numbers and diversity of migrating waterbirds steadily to heavily increasing in certain areas along the Mississippi River. This suggests a need for improvements in water quality and wetland habitats upstream, in Pool 2 (map)

 

Waterbird Ground Counts

Diving Ducks	Ducks and Geese
Puddle Ducks	Other Waterbirds

 

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  2011 Waterbird Survey Video

  See how waterbirds are surveyed and identified in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.