Victoria’s aerial duck survey resumes

The GMA is conducting the annual helicopter survey across Victoria to monitor the abundance of game duck populations, to help improve our knowledge of waterfowl ecology.

Update – aerial survey to resume

The Game Management Authority’s annual helicopter duck survey will be flying over Victoria from Friday 25 November.

The 2022 survey was paused in October due to weather conditions and flooding across the state. The survey will start over parts of western and south western Victoria and move across the state before finishing on Monday 12 December.

Rural landholders may see a helicopter flying at low levels for a short time. An experienced helicopter operator has been contracted to undertake surveying. Minimising disturbance to stock, assets and ensuring public safety are the highest priorities.

17/10/2022

Update – aerial survey postponed due to flooding

The Game Management Authority’s annual survey of Victoria’s game duck population has been postponed due to weather conditions and flooding across the state.

The survey commenced on Friday, 14 October in the far west of the State before a decision was made on the weekend to postpone the survey due to the extent of the current flood crisis.

Postponing the abundance survey will ensure no additional disruption to flood affected communities and demands on local infrastructure in these areas.

There would have also been issues with the accuracy of the data in flood affected areas.

The aerial survey and ground counts are currently anticipated to resume in late-November or December, depending on weather conditions and other factors, such as the ability to access survey sites.

07/10/2022

The GMA is conducting the annual helicopter survey across Victoria to monitor the abundance of game duck populations, to help improve our knowledge of waterfowl ecology.

The aerial survey will be conducted by experienced wildlife biologists recording the presence, species and number of game ducks on waterbodies across Victoria.

Satellite imaging will then be used to determine how much water is in the landscape, which will inform an estimate of the total abundance of each game duck species in the state.

GMA Research Principal Jason Flesch said this is the largest and most comprehensive survey of game ducks undertaken in Victoria.

“This is the third year the monitoring program has been conducted which provides critical data on the abundance of game ducks in Victoria,” Dr Flesch said.

“This year the survey will be expanded to cover more wetlands, sewerage ponds, farm dams, irrigation channels, creeks and rivers. In total, 800 waterbodies will be surveyed by air and another 66 by ground crews”

“Results from this research give a better understanding of game duck populations and will be used in the future to inform adaptive harvest management.”

The 2022 survey is scheduled to take place from Tuesday 11 October – 28 October 2022, subject to weather conditions or other delays and will cover much of the state where game ducks are found.

A map of the flight paths is available below. The flight schedule may change from day to day, depending on weather conditions or other factors.

Residents in surveyed areas may see a helicopter flying at low levels for a short time and for no longer than is necessary.

An experienced helicopter operator has been contracted to undertake the aerial survey. Minimising disturbance to stock, assets and ensuring public safety are the highest priorities.

A report containing the findings of the survey will be available on the GMA website in 2023.