West Virginia wildlife biologists counted 2,200 ducks and 4,980 geese during the annual mid-winter waterfowl survey in early January, according to Steve Wilson, Waterfowl Biologist for the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

"The number of ducks counted was below average, which was expected because of the unusually mild weather in December and most of January," Wilson reported. Wintering ducks remain further north or scatter out among smaller waters until ice and snow force them south or onto larger water bodies that are not frozen. "The number of Canada geese was above average as a result of good production in the summer of 2006 and the mild weather," said Wilson.