Unofficial LA Waterfowl Aerial Survey (Coastal Region)

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Hunters went into opening weekend without the benefit of the always anticipated Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) November aerial survey. Bad weather hindered the survey flights and delayed the compilation of the report until after the season opened. It may have been a good thing.

“The 2024 November survey estimate of 510,000 ducks in Louisiana’s coastal region and Little River basin (Catahoula Lake area) was the lowest on record and 12.7 percent below last November’s previous record low estimate of 584,000 ducks,” said LDWF Waterfowl Manager Jason Olszak. “Increases from 2023 were observed only for blue-winged teal (+48.7 percent) and pintails (+44.9 percent). All other species regularly and historically reported showed annual declines of greater than 20 percent.”

Of note, and not included in the overall duck number listed above, were “an estimated 107,000 black-bellied whistling ducks across the coast, a 600 percent increase from the 15,000 estimated in 2023,” Olszak added.

The majority of ducks were surveyed in southwest Louisiana, which had an estimated 284,000 birds. The southeast count was 107,000 ducks, and the Little River Basin was 118,000. Bad weather prevented survey flights from being conducted in northwest Louisiana. Overall, improved marsh conditions were noted along the coast in contrast to last year’s drought-plagued habitat. However, there were still some lingering effects from the drought.

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