32274 



Despite cases of this kind, the concensus o-f all Service personnel operat- 

 ing in waterfowl breeding areas in the United States was that while not specta- 

 cular, nevertheless the 1942 season, was entirely satisfactory and that a good 

 crop of birds was produced. , : ' : ': 



Fall Mig ration 



Reports on the waterfowl ■migration of 1942 were received from 305 observers 

 who made comparisons with that of the fall of 1941 ♦ ' ' 



Gross analysis of thes.e data on the status of waterfowl in general showed 

 that there were 157 reports of increase to 44 of decrease, while 73 indicated 

 no change. In a summation of the categorical reports, species by species,, the 

 increase classification stands at 1,794, the decrease at 783, and the no change 

 at 2,520, In other words,- while most observers found that 'there was a sub- 

 stantial increase In the number of waterfowl as a group,; it was also true that 

 a majority of these same observers, in their reports .on individual species, 

 found little change from the -status observed an 1941 • This .'seemingly anomalous 

 situation is probably the result of two factors; (1) the increasing difficulty 

 of making accurate seasonal comparisons with the constantly increasing popula- 

 tions, and (2) the fact that some of the commoner species are increasing more 

 rapidly than- -"some, of those that only a few years ago were considered to be in 

 a critical condition. For example in 1941, the increase percentage fig- 

 ure for the Mallard was 43, while in, 1942 it "was. 58, whereas for the Redhead 

 in 1941 it was 30, a figure that in 1942 had risen only to 33* 



The status of the continental population of ducks and geese, as revealed 

 by these reports, could be considered gratifying. Some species, like the 

 White«*f rented, Cackling, and Ross's Geese showed little change from their sta- 

 tus in 1941, while for the first time since these reports were started nearly 

 ten years ago, not one decrease report was received for the Atlantic Brant,- 

 Even the Wood Duck, legally included (1 bird) in- the' game bag for the first 

 time in nearly 25 years, seemed to be easily holding its own,' 



While the percentage' figures for all four flyways are remarkably close, ' 

 it nevertheless appeared that the most significant gains had : been made, first, 

 in the Central Flyway 'and' second., the Pacific Flyway, 



This general account based upon national coverage, was supplemented by 

 special reports for regions and flyways. For example biologist Smith trans- 

 mitted an excellent statement of the movement in the Mississippi, Flyway in 

 which he traced the migration from Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wiscon- 

 sin, and Michigan, south to Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Siangely 

 enough, and perhaps indicative of the year-to-year variation that can exist 

 in any flyway, the percent of increase recorded In the valley of the Illinois 

 River was only 2*6, while In 1941 it was 39,0, and in 1940 it was 10.4. Mr, 

 Smith's report alone could furnish material to fill all the pages used for 

 this summary, . 



