Additional breeding population surveys are also conducted in some parts of eastern Canada, although they are presently not included in the integrated Eastern Waterfowl Survey.

Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada 2012: background.

As part of this process, the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment Canada produces three reports each year.

The first report, Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada (commonly called the November report), contains population and other biological information on migratory game birds, and thus provides the scientific basis for management.

The second report, Proposals to Amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations (the December report), outlines the proposed changes to the annual hunting regulations, as well as proposals to amend the overabundant species regulations and other proposed amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations.

Proposals for hunting regulations are developed in accordance with the Objectives and Guidelines for the Establishment of National Regulations for Migratory Game Bird Hunting.

The three reports are distributed to organizations and individuals with an interest in migratory game bird conservation, to provide an opportunity for input on the development of hunting regulations in Canada.

Data presented in the Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada report come from a variety of sources.

Breeding population estimates and trends for inland ducks are derived from large-scale systematic aerial surveys conducted annually in eastern and western Canada and parts of the United States.

Additional small-scale, usually annual, breeding waterfowl surveys are also conducted in other parts of this country.

Information on sea duck populations comes mainly from surveys limited to a few key locations or a small portion of the species range, and the surveys are conducted during the breeding, moulting or overwintering period.

Goose population estimates and trends are derived mainly from specific annual or occasional surveys carried out during the breeding season or, in some cases, during migration.

Additional information on waterfowl populations is also provided by mid-winter surveys on the wintering grounds conducted annually in the four U.S.

Population information on swans and other migratory game birds is derived from specific breeding or wintering surveys or countrywide breeding bird surveys.

Harvest levels of migratory game birds in Canada and the United States are estimated through national harvest surveys and, in some cases, through species-specific surveys.

From 1961 through 2001, estimates of waterfowl harvest in the U.S.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) Waterfowl Questionnaire Survey.

In addition to waterfowl, it gathers information on species and groups of migratory game birds such as woodcock, doves and snipe.

Harvest estimates yielded by the two surveys cannot be directly compared.

The CWS carries out a systematic helicopter survey over the Boreal Shield region from northeastern Ontario to Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Atlantic Highlands region from the Gasp Peninsula in Quebec to Nova Scotia.

Figure 1 ). This work has been evolving since 1990, originating as part of the Black Duck Joint Venture of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP).

The surveys are designed and timed primarily to provide reliable breeding population estimates and trends for the American Black Duck, an early nesting species.

Historically, the data from these surveys (CWS and USFWS) have been analyzed separately, despite some overlap in geographic coverage.

In 2004, the CWS and the USFWS agreed to integrate the two surveys to reduce the extent of overlap and expand the geographic region covered.

The data presented in this report represent an integration of the results of the two survey platforms.

In time, all survey results will be integrated for reporting on a regional basis.

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