'rfrf''^WWm'w'M'i'JTifr' r/i''/i/% 



iatiJMit 



The trumpeter swan, threatened by extinction as late as 1935. may now be regarded as "'safe" — a status 

 reached through protection of the residual population of breeding birds at Red Rock Lakes and Yellowstone 

 National Park, where nesting and other habitat conditions were favorable. (Photo by A. C. Hill) 



A method of trapping wood ducks in the fall bj' 

 driving flocks into a large collecting pen at night 

 was developed by Patuxent biologists, who banded 

 565 of these birds as a result of a single drive. In- 

 creased banding made possible by this method will 

 enable workers to learn more about this important 

 species. 



Maine duch study nearing completion. — The 

 Maine Unit's long-term waterfowl renesting and 

 homing study is now in the seventh year and near- 

 ing completion. Emphasis is being placed on the 

 black duck, mallard, and ring-necked duck. In 

 1961, 32 jjercent of the nest-trapped females had 

 been marked in previous years in the same nesting 

 covers. Homing bj- hand-reared birds, however, 

 continued to be very low, as noted during earlier 

 yeai-s of the investigation. 



A 38-yeiir hunting record. — The waterfowl 

 harvest records of the Bear River Club Company 

 in Box Elder County, recently analyzed by Utah 

 Unit personnel, span 38 years (1922-60), and per- 

 mit tabulation of the kill for this entire period. 

 Analysis showed the total kill per season, the num- 

 ber of birds of any one species taken in a season, 

 the number of hunters utilizing the marsh in a 

 season, and the average kill i>er man-day. 



Eii'ectiveness of hunting regulations on kill is 

 shown by the average of 23 ducks per man-day for 

 1922-29, when the bag limit was 25 ducks; 12 

 ducks per man-day for 1930-33 with a 15-bird 

 limit; and 3.97 ducks per man-day for 1960 and 

 a 5-bird limit. The canvasback was the main 

 species killed on theae marshes during the period 

 of record. 



15 



