![Waterfowl Calendar Begins]()
A mild winter eased the surveying of duck habitat. (USFWS/Rob Spangler photo)
By Steve Wright, OutdoorChannel.com
The calendar year begins each Jan. 1, of course, and the U.S. government's fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. But for ducks and other waterfowl, the year begins May 1. That's when the Breeding Population and Habitat Survey begins through a cooperative effort of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service.
This year's effort got a bit of a head start at some points — in late April, thanks to the mild winter that didn't leave many frozen wetlands to hamper the effort. Still, most of the 55,000 miles of transects flown each year from low altitude (150 feet) fixed wing aircraft will be done in May.
The annual survey now covers 2.1 million square miles...