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Breeding Population Inventories and Measures of Recruitment

VIII. Conslusions

Estimates of breeding population and measures of recruitment are fundamental to waterfowl management. We have reviewed a large array of methods that have been or are currently used. All of the methods have shortcomings, but in general the methods are as satisfactory as those used for other groups of wildlife. Managers must define their need for data carefully and give attention to the methods used. Beware of methods that are more sophisticated than required, as well as methods that are fundamentally flawed for their intended purpose. Methods must be based on understanding of the basic biology of the individual waterfowl species. Surveys that produce long-term data gathered by unbiased or at least consistent methods are essential to waterfowl management. There are serious problems for waterfowl worldwide (Isakov 1967, 1970, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service 1986), and data on breeding populations must be the best attainable with available resources.

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