12 
A breakdown of the brood age classes by stratum indi- 
cated that nesting conditions and hatching success were 
similar over the entire survey area, and that early nesting 
attempts were successful. 
The late nesting index of 8,400 was the second lowest 
(5,400 in 1977) since the beginning of surveys in 1966. A 
late spring, coupled with deteriorating habitat, and suc- 
cessful early nesting attempts provided little chance of any 
significant late nesting success. 
North and South Dakota 
Data supplied by Edgar Ferguson, Ted Heuer, 
James F. Voelzer, and John Tautin 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Spring Weather and Habitat Conditions 
In North Dakota, above average precipitation in the 
spring followed by continual rainfall during and after the 
survey resulted in excellent marsh habitat throughout most 
of the State. Pond counts increased 54% over 1978 and 
12% were above the 10-year mean. 
In South Dakota, slightly less favorable habitat condi- 
tions occurred. In western South Dakota, there were 20 % 
fewer ponds than 1978 and 17% fewer than the long-term 
mean. The southeast portion of the State had 18% more 
ponds than in 1978 and was 28% above the 10-year mean. 
Total ponds decreased 14% from 1978 and were 4% 
below the mean. 
Breeding Populations (Tables B-8 and B-9) 
In North Dakota, mallards increased 35% from 1978 
and were 20% above the long-term mean. Pintails de- 
creased 5% from last year but were still 8% above the 
mean. The canvasback estimates of 64.4 thousand were 
the highest in the past 10 years. The spectacular numbers 
of coots (1.4 million) were thought to reflect the habitat 
conditions in North Dakota. 
In South Dakota, all species except bufflehead, coot, 
and Canada geese decreased in relation to 1978. Mallard 
and pintail were slightly above the long-term mean. The 
coot index was 62% above 1978 and remained 157% 
above the mean. 
As there were higher proportions of lone drakes in South 
Dakota, it was presumed that the nesting season was more 
advanced than in North Dakota. Since neither index dif- 
fered by more than 5% from the previous year, this would 
indicate little change in breeding phenology between the 
two years. 
Summer Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Precipitation for May and June in both States was below 
normal, especially in the western portions, which caused a 
reduction in the number of ponds and created lush vegeta- 
tion on the remaining pothole habitat. Some overwater 
nesting species may have benefited from generally favor- 
able vegetation on the potholes, but brood visibility was 
down considerably from “normal” years. Pond counts in 
North Dakota increased 38 % from 1978 but were 8% be- 
low the mean. Ponds in South Dakota decreased 13% 
from 1978 and 14% from the 10-year mean. Ground 
studies in North Dakota supported a dismal prospect for 
future waterfowl production because of the decline in 
quality of the habitat base. Only major changes in land 
use can reverse this trend, and the outlook for such a 
change was not optimistic. 
Production (Tables B-8 and B-9) 
The duck brood index in North Dakota of 30,700 was a 
decrease of 18% from 1978 and 25% from the mean. 
This decrease may have been a result of the lush emergent 
pond growth and the resulting difficulty in brood observa- 
tion. This held true for South Dakota also, where the 
brood index decreased 37% from 1978 and 11% from the 
10-year mean. Total late-nesting indices for North Dakota 
are down 50% from last year and 75% from the mean. A 
similar pattern was observed in South Dakota where late- 
nesting indices decreased 61% from 1978 and 61% from 
the 10-year mean. 
Minnesota 
Data supplied by Robert L. Jessen 
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 
Information concerning duck breeding populations in 
Minnesota is contained in Tables B-10 and B-11. 
California 
Data supplied by J. LeDonne, F. Kozlik, 
H. George, and D. Hinz 
California Department of Fish and Game 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Habitat conditions in northeastern California were gen- 
erally drier in 1979 than in 1978. Some areas have still not 
recovered from the drought years of 1976 and 1977. Most 
of the permanent water areas held enough water for this 
breeding season; however, the temporary waterfowl habi- 
tat was almost nonexistent. There were isolated areas in 
this region that received enough runoff to produce good 
nesting and brooding conditions for ducks and geese, but 
this habitat made up only a small portion of the overall 
area. 
The Central Valley received above normal amounts of 
rainfall and this, together with the runoff from the snow- 
pack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, filled the State’s 
reservoirs and caused some spillage through the Sacra- 
mento River weirs. However, there was not the extensive 
flooding of lowlands that occurred in late winter and 
spring of 1978. The Central Valley is mostly composed of 


