June census was completed there were 
broods on the wing. 
Precipitation during the spring of 1964 
was 1 to 6 inches above normal. Flood 
conditions existed on many streams and 
bottomland marshes throughout the census 
period. The scheduling of stream census 
activities had to be arranged between 
floods. 
Production indexes 
Wood duck nesting on marsh and lake 
habitat decreased by approximately 53 
percent, while nesting on 730 miles of 
stream decreased by only 3 percent. 
The number of broods sighted per mile, 
of stream decreased from the all-time 
high recorded last year. The number of 
broods per square mile of marsh habitat 
decreased approximately the same. De¬ 
creases were also noted in average brood 
size (table B-62). 
SOUTHWESTERN MANITOBA 
Data supplied by Charles H. Lacy 
Ducks Unlimited, Canada 
Weather and habitat conditions 
Water areas increased 23 percent above 
1963, but conditions varied greatly from 
one region to another (table B-63). Brush 
clearing, filling of potholes, and drainage 
continued at a high level. A dry, open 
winter permitted widespread burning of 
pond margins with damage to nesting cover. 
Breeding population indexes 
The total index was 56 percent above 
1963. Both dabblers and divers increased 
proportionately, with the exception of 
mallards, which are still 15 percent be¬ 
low the 1961 level (tables B-64 and B-65). 
ALBERTA 
Data supplied by Ducks Unlimited (Canada) 
Weather and habitat conditions 
The number of water areas decreased 
36 percent below 1963 and 33 percent be¬ 
low the 10-year average in the Province 
as a whole, although conditions were bet¬ 
ter in a few localities. Good rains in 
early May provided excellent habitat in 
the extreme southern edge of the Prov¬ 
ince. The central prairies are still 
deep in the grip of drought. 
Breeding population indexes 
On the basis of 271 transects the duck 
population as a whole showed no signifi¬ 
cant change. Small losses in pintail, 
mallard, and scaup were offset by gains 
in the other species (table B-66). 
SASKATCHEWAN 
Data supplied by Ducks Unlimited (Canada) 
Weather and habitat conditions 
Water conditions are good in the east¬ 
ern parklands, but the western half of 
the Province and the southern prairies 
are in critical condition. There was 
sufficient water to initiate nesting but 
not enough without heavy rains to secure 
broods until fledged. 
Breeding population indexes 
Provincewide the breeding population 
was 22 percent below 1963 but 54 per¬ 
cent below the 10-year average. Losses 
in the western half of the Province were 
compensated by increases in the park- 
lands. Pintails, mallards, and gadwalls 
showed the greatest decline with blue- 
winged teal and most of the diving ducks 
increasing (table B-67). 
EASTERN ONTARIO, QUEBEC, 
AND LABRADOR 
Data supplied by E. B. Chamberlain 
and C. F. Kaczynski 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 
20 
