Bag sizes of game ducks in New South Wales between 1977 and 1984 were compared with antecedent
annual rainfall in eastern Australia. Mean bag size is equivalent to 'catch-per-unit-effort', an index of
population abundance. Annual rainfall is an index of habitat availability for waterfowl. Bag sizes of
Pacific black duck and all game species combined were significantly (P<O.05) related to antecedent
rainfall. Rates of increase (computed from annual catch-per-unit-effort) of black duck, maned duck
and all species combined were significantly related to rainfall difference between the preceding 2 years.
This study indicates that prior rainfall is a useful predictor of duck numbers in New South Wales.
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