summer. Coots showed a phenomenal increase in 

 breeding pairs, as compared with 1961 and 1962, 

 and the 11 species of ducks that became established 

 were also represented by substantially greater 

 numbers. 



The total waterfowl breeding population in 1963 

 < un-Mt'd of 592 pairs of ducks and 369 pairs of 

 coots and may be compared with the 136 and 278 

 pairs of ducks and 29 and 94 pairs of coots in 1961 

 and 1962. Nesting success on the 3 areas in 1963, 

 based on 53 duck nests active (containing eggs) 

 when found, was 32 percent (17 nests), while 68 

 percent (36 nests) were destroyed by predators 

 or were deserted. Raccoons appeared to be re- 

 sponsible for most of the nest losses. A total of 

 183 duck broods were recorded on Stutsman 

 County areas in 1963, a marked increase over the 

 116 broods in 1962 and the 40 broods in 1961. 



Waterfowl production improves on Far North 

 area. — The 5-year Yellowknife study was initi- 

 ated in 1961 and became fully operational in 1962. 

 Located in the Mackenzie District- of the North- 

 west Territories in a superior habitat type, the 



area consists of a 30-mile segment of the Mackenzie 

 Highway and contains 15 square miles with 236 

 natural water areas ranging in size up to 92 acres. 



Field work in L963 was carried out on the tract 

 between May 1 5 and August 24. A notable feature 

 of the investigation was the opportunity to com- 

 pare productivity during an extremely early sea- 

 son with productivity during the moderately late 

 season of 1962. 



The breeding population was estimated at 776 

 pairs, averaging 51.7 per square mile or 13 percent 

 more than in 1962. Lesser scaup, ringnecks, and 

 baldpates were substantially more abundant ; 

 green- winged teals were decidedly less numerous; 

 and there were fewer mallards. As compared 

 with 1962, nesting began 12 days earlier for the 

 mallard and pintail, and 3 and 4 days earlier for 

 the bufflehead and scaup. Hatching, beginning 

 al>out June 7, was also more advanced than in 

 1962, and was about as early as can be expected in 

 the Yellowknife region. Production was recorded 

 at 1,353 class I ducklings, or 32 percent more than 

 in 1962. 



-«~** \ 



Waterfowl brood counts on Far North study areas sometimes requires portaging of canoes over rugged terrain, like 

 that shown here on the Yellowknife area. Mackenzie District. Northwest Territories. (Photo by II. W. Murdy) 



20 



