in water of 1963 was of poor quality. 
Seasonal precipitation and runoff were in¬ 
sufficient to maintain the number of pot¬ 
holes through the fall and winter seasons. 
Even so, this will provide the significant 
habitat for waterfowl breeding populations 
this current season. 
The net effect of weather patterns during 
the fall and winter of 1963-64 was to in¬ 
tensify the drought conditions within the 
waterfowl habitat in southern and central 
Alberta. The slight improvement during 
the 1963 season has been lost completely. 
Dry conditions and resulting loss of runoff 
from winter storms could have left water- 
fowl habitat in its poorest condition since 
surveys were started. Only significant 
rainfall in the south prevented this 
situation. 
Pothole numbers in July were near 
normal in stratum C. But in strata A and 
B and for the Province percentages were 
42 to 66 percent below average and com¬ 
parative data from 1963. 
Breeding Population Indexes 
Our early prognosis for a reduced 
waterfowl population proved to be incorrect. 
Even with more severe habitat conditions 
the total waterfowl index for 1964 in¬ 
creased over 1963, dabblers by 13 percent 
and divers by 5 percent (table B-8). 
All species of ducks showed increases 
from last year with one exception, the pin¬ 
tail. The pintail, an important duck for 
this area, was 20 percent below 1963 and 
51 percent below the long-term average. 
Mallards were up slightly from 1963 but 
10 percent below average. Scaup, the 
most important diving duck in southern 
Alberta, showed little change either from 
1963 or from average. 
The indexes for minor species of dab¬ 
blers, principally gadwall and baldpate, 
have held up well during drought conditions. 
Being later nesters they have the advantage 
of more stable conditions during nest site 
selection and incubation. 
Presently coots are in the northern 
parklands where conditions are good. The 
index for coots increased 45 percent over 
last year, returning them to their long¬ 
time average. 
From lone drake ratios it appears that 
pintails nested earlier than mallards— 
88 percent and 74 percent (table B-9). 
Aspen began to leaf by mid-survey and 
leafing was complete at the end of the 
survey. The first brood was seen in the 
mid parklands on May 20. These events 
indicate no delay in the season. 
Waterfowl production indexes 
The total brood index decreased from 
202, 000 to 189, 000, 6 percent below 1963 
and 19 percent below the average of 
234, 000. The parklands produced more 
broods than last year, but the decrease 
resulted from extreme loss of habitat in 
southern areas. Brood size of 6. 2 was 
the same as in 1963. (Table B-10.) 
During the July survey departure of 
waterfowl from southern Alberta was 
evident. Mixed flocks of paired ducks 
were also scattered over the survey area, 
most noticeable in the short-grass prairie. 
They flushed readily, and we judge that 
they had given up nesting, a condition 
observed during earlier years of this 
drought. 
The coot brood index was 5 percent 
below last year and 62 percent below 
average. Concentrations of as many as 
500 coots were observed on larger lakes 
and potholes. 
Conclusions 
The phenology of the season was nor¬ 
mal. Class II and III broods predominated 
in the survey. 
The Lynch index is 87 compared with 
the average index of 115. 
Conditions are poor for carry over of 
potholes for next year. Good runoff is 
needed for a span of several years to ef¬ 
fect a significant upward trend in the 
number of potholes. 
We expect a much below average fall 
flight from southern and central Alberta. 
However, it will not differ greatly from 
1963. 
7 
