
the available water east of Vegerville was of a temporary 
nature but became good northwest and north of Ver- 
million, The pond index in this stratum had increased 
55% from 1978 but was still 18% below the mean. 
Overall, the pond index was 19% above 1978, primarily 
because of the substantial increase in water in stratum 26, 
but was still 20% below the mean. 
Breeding Population (Table B-4) 
Results of the 1979 survey indicated a measured im- 
provement in total ducks from 1978; the index was only 
7% below the mean. Puddle ducks showed the greatest in- 
creases (+ 26%) from 1978 but were still about 11% 
below the mean. The divers, influenced heavily by scaup, 
showed a 16% increase from 1978 and an _ increase 
(+ 24%) from the mean. 
Of the puddle ducks, blue-winged teal (+51%) and 
pintail (+34%) showed substantial increases from 1978. 
Moderate increases were indicated for gadwall (+ 24%), 
wigeon (+33%), mallard (+19%), and green-winged 
teal (+ 16%). Shovelers showed a decrease of 4% from 
1978. 
Of the divers, only scaup (+48%), bufflehead 
(+11%), and scoter (+39%) showed population in- 
creases from 1978. Goldeneye numbers decreased 
(—77%), as did mergansers (— 65%), ring-necked duck 
(-—58%), ruddy duck (-— 52%), canvasback (- 39%), and 
redhead (-— 25%) from 1978. 
Coots increased 148% from 1978 and are 25% above 
the mean. 
Canada geese were still on the increase in southern 
Alberta, and showed a 22% increase from 1978 and a 
34% increase from the mean. 
A look at the 10-year mean revealed that only wigeon 
(+2%), pintail (+7%), scaup (+56%), bufflehead 
(+57%), and scoter (+ 120%) populations were above 
the mean. All other species showed various decreases. 
Those which were significant were mallard (—31%), 
blue-winged teal (— 18%), redhead (— 37%), and canvas- 
back (— 32%). 
Summer Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Temperatures during May averaged from 1 to 2° below 
normal throughout most of Alberta. The first and last 
weeks in particular were colder than normal, and several 
record daily minimums were recorded at a number of sta- 
tions. Late frosts were fairly widespread during the last 
days of the month. In spite of the cool, unsettled condi- 
tions, the amount of precipitation received was near 
normal throughout the Province. Above normal snowfall 
occurred along the foothills from Pincher Creek to White- 
court and north of a line extending from Fort St. John to 
Grand Prairie, Whitecourt, and Coronation to Medicine 
Hat. 
Temperatures during June were nearly normal through- 
out most of Alberta, Early June was unseasonably cool; a 
number of stations established new record daily mini- 
mums. By mid-June, however, temperatures had 
recovered and by the end of the month, new daily maxi- 
mums were being recorded in the central and northern 
areas of Alberta. Total rainfall during the month ranged 
from 15 mm at Lethbridge to 160 mm near Whitecourt. 
The Edson—Whitecourt-Slave Lake area was the wettest 
region in the Province during June. Northeastern Alberta 
and the southern grasslands were considerably drier than 
normal, Rainfall elsewhere was variable and depended 
upon the frequency and intensity of the thunderstorms. 
The lack of rain in June (normally the wettest month), 
coupled with warm dry winds, seriously depleted the sur- 
face and soil moisture. Hay and cereal crops suffered be- 
cause of the lack of adequate moisture. 
Pond indexes revealed a 26% decrease in the survey 
area since May 1979. Greatest losses were indicated in 
stratum 27 (—42%) followed by stratum 29 (-—36%), 
stratum 26 (-21 %), and stratum 28 (-19%). Only stratum 
26 showed an increase in water from 1978 (+ 41%). Slight 
decreases from average were noted for the survey area, but 
increases were shown for strata 28 and 29. 
Production (Table B-4) 
For 1979, the Alberta duck brood index decreased 2% 
from 1978. The index is still 16% above the mean. De- 
creases were noted from 1978 in all strata except stratum 
29, which increased 59%. The number of broods de- 
creased 21% in stratum 26, 8% in stratum 27, and 8% in 
stratum 28. The average brood size decreased (— 7%) 
from 1978 to 5.1 ducklings per brood. Coot production in- 
creased (+ 36%) from 1978 in southern Alberta. All of the 
increase (+ 83% from 1978) was in stratum 26. Decreases 
of 29% were indicated in stratum 27, 28% in stratum 28, 
and 17% in stratum 29. 
A look at the brood classification revealed that 44% of 
the broods in 1979 were Class III, 29% were Class II, 
17% were Class I, and 10% were unidentified. 
The late-nesting index of 117,100 represented a 7% in- 
crease from 1978 and an 18% increase from the mean. 
Changes of significance from 1978 were found in mallard 
(—15%), gadwall (+ 26%), wigeon (+11%), green- 
winged teal (+66%), blue-winged teal (— 29%), and 
scaup (+36%). Although not of great importance, the 
index for redhead decreased (— 31%) from 1978, whereas 
canvasback increased (+ 100%), 
Southern Saskatchewan 
Data supplied by Douglas Benning, Rossalius C. Hanson, 
William Larned, and Albert Novara 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Spring Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Total precipitation during September-May was above 
normal at all stations with the exception of Kindersley, 
Which was slightly below normal, 
