SOUTH CHARLESTON, West Virginia — Fewer ducks and geese were counted during West Virginia's annual mid-winter waterfowl survey.
State waterfowl biologist Mike Peters says the survey was conducted over two days in early January. The annual survey involves both ground and aerial observations of historically significant waterfowl areas in the state.
Observers counted 7,844 ducks, down 11 percent from a year ago. The number of geese counted was 6,390, which is down 4 percent.
Despite the decrease, Peters says duck numbers are 87 percent above the 10-year average while geese are up 20 percent over that period.