In this chapter we review the techniques used to measure two important parameters of waterfowl populations, size of breeding population and recruitment. Waterfowl managers usually measure population size during the breeding season, although for some species and in some areas winter inventories may be used.
Population size is a function of natality and mortality.
Other chapters in this volume deal in detail with the biology of those processes. This chapter discusses procedural aspects of measurement and reviews some of the operational systems that have been used to estimate population size and recruitment, especially in North America. Breeding population inventories. Ecology and Management of Breeding Waterfowl. Breeding population inventories.