Brandt Counts for WA State

[Shane]

WDFW conducted waterfowl and brant flights in north Puget Sound last week.  Numbers of both dabbling ducks and brant were much lower than expected this time of year.

 

The total number of dabbling ducks counted from Port Susan to Blaine was only 177,771 birds, which is the lowest count of the past five December surveys.  In December 2008 the number was 347,283. 

 

The total number of brant counted this week was 6,113.  The total for Fidalgo, Padilla, and Samish bays was only 2,785.  In December 2008 the total in these bays was 6,618.  This December, Lummi Bay had the most birds with over 3,000 brant.

 

The total number of brant by bay was as follows:

 

Fidalgo: 0

Padilla: 215

Samish: 2,570

Brant Point: 0

Lummi: 3,008

Birch: 320

Blaine Harbor: 0

Drayton Harbor: 0