Survey runs conducted once a week during the 2007 spring and fall migrations counted 5,993 ducks, geese and swans.  The numbers counted offer a weekly snap-shot of waterfowl populations in this small portion of the Chequamegon Bay area on a given day.  This gives Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge managers an overall sense of the individual species and numbers of migrating waterfowl. 

Scaup were the most numerous species observed with 1,317 counted.  In the diving duck category, they were followed by unidentified divers (875), common goldeneyes (780) and buffleheads (218).  Other species of divers and mergansers included ring-necked duck, redhead, canvasback, surf scoter, white-winged scoter and common, hooded, and red-breasted mergansers. 

The most common dabbling ducks observed were mallards (830).  They were followed by unidentified dabblers (135), American black ducks (77), and American widgeon (40).  Other species of dabbling ducks included American green-winged teal, wood duck, and blue-winged teal.  A total of 19 species of waterfowl were observed, 11 species of divers and mergansers, six species of dabbling ducks, Canada geese and tundra swans.

Historically, Chequamegon Bay and its wetland estuaries hosted spectacular numbers of migrating waterfowl, but according to local accounts, numbers are now a mere shadow of what they were prior to the Second World War.  Three species common at the refuge, scaup, American black duck and wood duck are all regional and national conservation priority species for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  While wood duck numbers are increasing nationally, scaup and American black duck numbers have been decreasing for decades. 

The Chequamegon Bay area is an important migratory stop for a large number of scaup.  This survey and other work in the area will be important for the conservation of this declining species.  Habitat restoration and protection efforts at the refuge, federal, state, tribal and other lands in the area will hopefully help to boost populations of these and other waterfowl species which inhabit northern Wisconsin.