Resources related to Human Disturbance

Since the 1952-53 hunting season, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has conducted a
survey of Federal Duck Stamp purchasers to estimate waterfowl hunter activity and harvest in
the United States. That survey was conducted annually through the 2001-02 hunting season,
after which it was replaced by a new migratory game bird harvest survey system. In 1992, the
FWS and State Fish and Wildlife Agencies (States) established the Migratory Bird Harvest
Information Program (HIP), which was fully operational nationwide by 1999 (Elden et al. 2002).

During the 1980's, restrictive harvest regulations linked to declines in mid-continent duck populations and restrictions on black duck harvest led to a shift in hunting pressure to lesser-utilized species, such as sea ducks. Concern among Atlantic coast waterfowl biologists about this increase in pressure on sea ducks led to a variety of surveys in different areas being conducted at different times, using a variety of techniques that were not compatible.

ABSTRACT.—The ingestion of spent lead shot was known to cause mortality in wild waterfowl in the US a
century before the implementation of nontoxic shot regulations began in 1972. The biological foundation
for this transition was strongly supported by both field observations and structured scientific investigations.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, various societal factors forestalled the full transition to nontoxic shot
for waterfowl hunting until 1991. Now, nearly 20 years later, these same factors weigh heavily in current