1. INTRODUCTION

Waterfowl and allied species - ducks, geese, swans, loons, coots, grebes, and cranes, comprise an important and diverse component of British Columbia's avifauna. Along with the desire to take stock of the province's wildlife resources, there are many reasons to inventory this group of birds:

1. Waterfowl and allied species depend on wetland habitat that is vital for sustaining a healthy environment. Wetlands collect and store runoff and groundwater discharge that is necessary to moderate the effects of drought and flooding, sustain natural vegetation and crops, prevent erosion, and purify water. The soil forming process in river deltas sustains much of our agriculture, and the productive littoral zone supports most of our aquatic food base. There are major threats to the integrity of wetland and coastal habitats in BC due to urban, industrial and agricultural expansion, hydro-electric development, mine development, logging, increased disposal of mineral and chemical wastes and offshore oil and gas exploration. Decisions that alter the environment should only be made after consideration of impacts on the creatures which depend on that environment. By monitoring waterfowl populations we can assess the impact of threats to our wetlands and coastal habitats and then take steps to preserve a healthy environment.
2. Most species in this inventory group are hunted. It is important to monitor their population status so that appropriate harvest limits and regulations can be set.
3. Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities in BC, and waterfowl and allied species are among the most attractive and accessible birds for viewing. Monitoring populations and their distributions provides information that can be used to guide people to viewing opportunities.
4. Agricultural and marine aquacultural crops may be severely damaged by foraging waterfowl and allied species. Monitoring the distribution and habitat preferences of birds can provide information that will help alleviate this conflict.

A number of agencies and individuals are involved in collecting data on the distribution and abundance of waterfowl and allied species in BC. The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) oversees the conservation of migratory birds, and because most of the habitat on which migratory birds depend is under provincial jurisdiction, the British Columbia Ministry of Environment (MOE) shares this responsibility. Ducks Unlimited Canada is active in improving aquatic habitats for waterfowl, and therefore participates in federal/provincial monitoring programs, as well as their own. University researchers often contribute through their field studies, and many amateur ornithologists (more than 8,000 people in BC) collect valuable data by keeping field notes of their observations, and by participating in volunteer monitoring programs (e.g., Christmas Bird Counts).

With so many different contributors of inventory information, it is important to devise standardized data collection techniques so that information from a variety of sources will be valid (repeatable), comparable and therefore, useful to managers. It is essential that inventory procedures remain consistent over time so that long term trends can be examined. The purpose of this manual is to provide recommendations for applying standardized methods for the inventory of waterfowl and allied species in British Columbia.