levels in the primary production areas 
were the highest recorded since the spring 
of 1961. Without exception, personnel on 
State fish and game areas reported a 
marked increase in the number of water- 
fowl broods seen. Increases in the num¬ 
bers of wood ducks, mallards, and black 
ducks were particularly evident. Canada 
goose and coot production was apparently 
the same as the past few years. 
Production index 
The stream transects were surveyed 
by use of an outboard motor boat with an 
operator and observer. A total of 70 
wood duck broods were observed, a 
substantial increase from last year’s 
near-record low count of 29 broods on 
these 4 transects and even from the 57 
broods seen on all 9 streams. The cur¬ 
rent total represents an increase of 141 
percent from the count in 1964; an 8 per¬ 
cent decline from the 5-year (1960-1964) 
average of 76.0; and an 11 percent rise 
from the figure of 63. 2, which is the 
average of the 10 years from 1955-1964 
(table B-60). 
The observed total of 70 broods con¬ 
tained 487 young wood ducks. Of these 
broods, a complete count of ducklings 
was made on 61, containing 465 young, an 
average of 7. 6 young per brood. Complete 
brood sizes ranged from 1 to 17. 
MISSOURI 
Data supplied by Missouri Department 
of Conservation 
Weather and water conditions 
Nesting conditions in late April and 
May were classified as excellent for wood 
ducks. Temperatures were above normal 
and water levels favorable. Early nest¬ 
ing attempts were successful in bringing 
off many broods. Flooding conditions 
that existed throughout most of June, 
coupled with heavy vegetative cover, made 
observations exceedingly difficult, par¬ 
ticularly in relation to brood observations 
in lake and marsh habitat. Precipitation 
throughout June caused flooding even more 
severe than in 1964. Due to high water 
conditions the survey of both stream and 
lake marsh habitat was reduced by 24 and 
36 percent, respectively. 
Production indexes 
Wood duck nesting efforts per square 
mile of marsh and lake habitat showed a 
significant increase of 82 percent while 
brood observations decreased by 20 per¬ 
cent. The decrease in broods was par¬ 
tially due to observation difficulties cor¬ 
related with flooding and heavy vegetative 
cover. Lake and marsh habitat in south¬ 
ern portions of the State showed an in¬ 
crease of 60 percent in pair observations. 
This indicates that production in lake 
and marsh habitat was either delayed or 
early nesting attempts were unsuccessful. 
Late nesting attempts (not surveyed) 
could result in a considerable addition to 
1965 production. 
Wood duck nesting efforts per mile of 
stream show approximately a 7 percent 
increase over 1964 with number of broods 
sighted increasing to an all-time high of 
0.17. A point of interest is the increase 
in brood sightings while miles of stream 
censused decreased by 24 percent. These 
findings indicate slightly higher producti¬ 
vity on streams in 1965 irrespective of 
high water levels. 
A marked increase (28 percent) in 
average number of ducklings per brood 
was recorded in the class m age group 
while class I and n remained relatively 
unchanged. Brood size for all age groups 
combined increased by approximately 4.0 
percent. 
Mallards and blue-winged teal pro¬ 
duction in Missouri remains relatively 
insignificant. Sightings of broods from 
either of these species are quite rare. 
The 1965 nesting survey in Missouri 
indicates that wood duck production is 
slightly above last year’s (table B-61), 
26 
