trends but do not provide a basis for es¬ 
timating numbers. With a more favorable 
water picture in 1965, it is quite possible 
that wood ducks were scattered, which 
would account for the decline this year. 
The number of breeding wood ducks per 
lineal mile of census route was lower than 
in 1964, but the fourth highest in 13 years. 
The apparent drop in the breeding population 
was offset by an increased in brood pro¬ 
duction. Brood size averaged 7.94 young 
per adult female (table B-58) e 
Production Indexes 
Waterfowl production was excellent this 
year and in part the success is attributable 
to improve habitat conditions. Total State¬ 
wide waterfowl production is apparently one 
of the highest on record and some 6 percent 
above the previous high of 1963. 
WISCONSIN 
Data supplied by Wisconsin Conservation 
Department 
Weather and habitat conditions 
The winter of 1964-1965 was charac¬ 
terized by normal to heavy snowfall over 
most of Wisconsin. Spring rains were 
abundant and water conditions in 1965 
were excellent over all of Wisconsin pro¬ 
ducing the best breeding habitat in 3 years. 
Production areas suffered from lack of 
rain in June, particularly in the best 
quality habitat in the southeastern part of 
the State. Survival of broods in that area 
was undoubtedly reduced; however, abun¬ 
dant July rainfall improved type IV and type 
V areas, and the condition for broods was 
generally good. 
The cold, wet spring delayed the onset 
of nesting, however, and broods of mal¬ 
lards and wood ducks appeared later than 
in most years. The major nesting species, 
blue-winged teal, was not delayed as much 
as the early breeders. 
Breeding population indexes 
The index data indicated a population 
of 62, 000 ( + 9, 000) breeding ducks. It 
was assumed that one-fourth of the blue¬ 
winged teal and wood ducks present were 
observed, and two-thirds of the mallards 
and other ducks. An expansion of the 
data results in a total breeding population 
of 157,400 ducks. Blue-winged teal com¬ 
prised 50 percent of this population, mal¬ 
lards 29 percent, and wood ducks, black 
ducks and seven other species comprised 
the remaining 21 percent. 
Reports from most game managers for 
Wisconsin 1 s 72 counties indicate that this 
year T s breeding population is moderately 
larger than that in 1964. It was reported 
that blue-winged teal and several lesser 
and wood ducks were moderately lower 
than in 1964. 
Utilization of nest boxes by wood 
ducks was higher than in 1964. Of 214 
houses checked, 51, or 24 percent, were 
used. In 1964, 34 (17 percent) of 199 
houses were used. There may be a tend¬ 
ency for houses to be checked in the bet¬ 
ter areas only. 
Production indexes 
Potential production probably was re¬ 
duced because of the late spring. In¬ 
dicated nest losses in hay fields were 
substantial. The 1965 brood sizes also 
tended to be fewer than in 1964, although 
sample sizes are small (table B-59). 
Although a late nesting season and 
other factors may have reduced potential 
production, Wisconsin’s contribution to 
the fall waterfowl flight should show a 
moderate improvement over 1964. 
INDIANA 
Data supplied by Russell R. Hyer 
Weather and habitat conditions 
Throughout the State, waterfowl habitat 
conditions appeared to be excellent. Water 
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