Estimation of Confidence Intervals for Federal Waterfowl Harvest Surveys

I developed methods of estimating confidence intervals for the federal waterfowl harvest surveys conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). I estimated flyway harvest confidence intervals for mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) (95% CI are ±8% of the estimate), Canada geese (Branta canadensis) (±11%), black ducks (Anas rubripes) (±16%), canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) (±32%), snow geese (Chen caerulescens) (±43%), and brant (Branta bernicla) (±46%). Differences between annual estimates of 10, 13, 22, 42, 43, and 58% could be detected with mallards, Canada geese, black ducks, canvasbacks, snow geese, and brant, respectively. Estimated confidence intervals for state harvests tended to be much larger than those for the flyway estimates.