10 
Breeding Populations (Tables B-8 and B-9) 
In North Dakota, dabblers increased 130% from 1977 
but remained unchanged compared with the 10-year 
average. Mallards increased 35 % from 1977 but were still 
10% below average. Other dabblers species fared simi- 
larlv in North Dakota but pintails increased 546% over 
1977 levels and 23% above average. Other notable in- 
creases were observed in shovelers (+ 228% and + 21%). 
Total divers in North Dakota increased 327% over 1977 
levels and were up 48% from average. This was due to 
huge increases in redheads (up 439% from 1977 and 40 % 
above average) and scaup (up 441 % from 1977 and 120% 
above average). Coots also increased dramatically from 
1977 (+ 313%) and the 10-year average ( + 30%). 
In South Dakota most species of waterfowl! showed in- 
creases from 1977. This was the first year in the last 10 
vears that the total waterfowl breeding population in- 
dexes were higher in South Dakota than in North Dakota. 
Mallards increased 101 % from 1977 and 27% from the 
average. Similar gains were noted in redheads, which in- 
creased 1,085% in 1978. The blue-winged teal index of 
1.28 million was higher than any other blue-winged teal 
index recorded in the past 10 years. Total ducks in South 
Dakota increased 284% from 1977 and 95% from the 
long-term average. The implications of the increases in 
South Dakota were that the favorable response by all 
waterfowl was the result of improved numbers of wet- 
land basins. The previous years were very dry and prob- 
ably resulted in a buildup of nutrients and consequent 
bloom in invertebrates during the 1978 breeding Season. 
It is theorized that this is one reason for the response of 
waterfowl to South Dakota breeding areas. 
Summer Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Habitat in both Dakotas was characterized by good 
moisture conditions and resultant improved habitat 
conditions. The area of improved habitat conditions ex- 
tended from a horizontal line across South Dakota from 
Aberdeen northward into North Dakota to about Wood- 
worth, North Dakota. Moisture conditions caused the 
resulting waterfowl habitat to improve markedly in this 
area. Proceeding from the Coteau eastward from both 
North and South Dakota there was a definite decline in 
waterfowl habitat quality. This culminated in stratum 47 
in which no broods were observed for the past 2 years. 
This degraded habitat is unlikely to improve regardless of 
the amount of rainfall it receives because of drainage. 
During May, observed ponds in North Dakota were up 
22% over 1977 but still showed a decrease of 26% from 
the average. In essence, North Dakota had not recovered 
from the drought of 1977. South Dakota habitat situa- 
tions were greatly improved over the past 10 years. Local 
residents reported seeing more ducks than they have ever 
seen and moisture conditions greatly improved. The total 
ponds in South Dakota were 55% above 1977 and 17% 
above average. 
Production (Tables B-8 and B-9) 
In North Dakota, the duck brood index increased 26 % 
over that of 1977. This was due to general increases in 
strata 43 and 46. Average brood size increased from 4.4 in 
1977 to 5.5 in 1978. 
In South Dakota, the duck brood index increased 118% 
over 1977. This also represented a 50% increase from the 
long-term average. 
In North Dakota the mallard late-nesting index in- 
creased 24%. from 1977 but still remained 56% below the 
long-term average. In South Dakota, the late-nesting 
index for mallards increased from 1977 but remained 
81% below average. In South Dakota, all species except 
black duck had an increase in this index compared with 
1977. 
Minnesota 
Data supplied by Robert L. Jessen 
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 
Spring Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Spring in Minnesota came late and temperatures re- 
mained low well into May. On 3 May 1978 nearly all 
lakes from Lake of the Woods to Lake Superior were ice- 
covered. Larger lakes within an area from Upper Red 
Lake to Mille Lacs Lake to Lake Superior were partially 
ice-covered. 
High winds prevented the State survey from beginning 
as planned and frequently hampered flights throughout 
the survey period of 10-23 May 1978. Fall rains and 
spring runoff restored many wetlands from the drought 
conditions of the previous 2 years. Estimated ponds in- 
creased from 55,000 in 1977 to 130,000 in 1978 (up 
136%). In addition, temporary sheet water was notably 
evident, especially in southwestern Minnesota and west 
of Fergus Falls. 
In general, habitat conditions were judged very good. 
Diving ducks and coots were noted nesting on type III 
and IV wetlands throughout the survey coverage. 
Breeding Populations (Tables B-10, B-11, and B-12) 
Estimates of the breeding population were made on the 
basis of four survey strata. Three of those strata are based 
on lake basins of 4 ha or more according to the following 
criteria of density: stratum I has 21 or more basins per 
township, stratum II has 11 to 20 basins per township, 
and stratum III has 2 to 10 basins per township. Stratum 
IV encompassed an irregular basin density in the north- 
western portion of the State. Excluded from the survey 
coverage were those areas having less than two lake basins 
per township, the metropolitan area surrounding the 
Twin Cities, and the infertile northeastern portion of the 
State. 
Estimates expanded for coverage by strata, but not for 
visibility, indicated an index of 142,341 ducks, 33,823 
coots, and 7,666 Canada geese (Table B-10). 
Visibility corrections derived from eight air-ground 
routes provided further expansion for statewide popu- 
lations of major species. In 1978 the total estimated duck 
breeding population was 615,000 birds of which 189,000 
were mallards, 256,000 were blue-winged teal, and 
12,000 were ring-necked ducks (Table B-11). Extremely 
low visibility of wood ducks (Aix sponsa) prevented their 
estimation from aerial surveys. These estimates indicated 
a slight overall increase in ducks (6%), a modest decline 
in mallards (13%), and a modest increase in blue-winged 
teal (17%). Both mallards and blue-winged teal were at 
population levels above long-term historical estimates. 
An aerial flight in west central Minnesota on 8 June 
1978 was made to view nesting progress as evidenced by 
occurrence of drake mallards with hens and other ducks. 
A low proportion of drakes with hens (3%) suggested that 
the nesting season was progressing well with fewer than 
usual nest losses (Table B-12). 
In summary, with minor species exceptions, Minne- 
sota’s duck breeding population was above the average 
and good water and pond conditions existed in the spring 
of 1978. Production of waterfowl was expected to be 
above average. 
Washington 
Data supplied by Richard C. Parker 
Washington Department of Game 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Average amounts of precipitation combined with mod- 
erate temperatures during the 1977-78 winter increased 
the number of water areas available for brooding ducks. 
The number of water areas on five transects counted in 
May was 201 (up 56% from 1977 and down 7% from the 
average). On three transects, the number of water areas 
available in July totaled 75 (up 142% from 1977 and 3% 
above average). There appeared to be an adequate num- 
ber of suitable brood ponds available for the 1978 water- 
fowl production year. 
Breeding Population (Table B-13) 
The duck breeding population index for 1978 totaled 
142,360 (down 24% from 1977 and down 20% from the 
1968-77 average). May counts showed that available 
water areas were at or near normal levels. During the 
drought of 1977, farmers over-irrigated in anticipation of 
a reduction in allocations later in the growing season. 
This resulted in an abundance of surface runoff water. 
The dabbler breeding index for Yakima was 20,000 
during 1977, which included 10,430 mallards. The mal- 
lard breeding index for 1978 was 12,770 (up 22% from 
1977). Blue-winged and cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera) 
totaled 8,090 during 1977 and 2,900 during 1978 (down 

1] 
64%). Other dabblers in the Yakima area were up from 
1977. The reason for the dramatic decline in blue-winged 
and cinnamon teal is unknown and was true for all Wash- 
ington areas. However, the 1977 drought forced water- 
fowl away from eastern Washington, and teal may 
simply have not returned in 1978. 
Dabbling ducks present on Washington production 
areas totaled 101,550 (down 28% from 1977 and 25% 
from the 1968-77 average). Mallards totaled 42,710 
(down 9% from 1977 and down 22% from the 10-year 
average). The blue-winged and cinnamon teal index was 
22,800 (down 58% from 1977 and 37% from the 10-year 
average). The pintail index was 7,330 (up 86% from 1977 
and 4% from average). 
The diving duck breeding index was 39,510 (down 
11% from 1977 and 6% from the 10-year average). Red- 
heads totaled 10,270 (down 44% from 1977 and 30% 
below average). Canvasbacks, scaup, and goldeneye were 
down from both 1977 and the average. The ring-necked 
duck index was 4,380 (up 44 % from 1977 and the 10-year 
average). Ruddy ducks were up 6% in 1978. 
Production Index 
Ducks responded to an increase in available water 
areas, with a production index of 330,700, which was 
down 10% from 1977 and 25% from the 10-year average 
(Table B-14). This was 5 percentage points below the 
duck breeding index, comparing 1978 with the 10-year 
average. Available breeders did not produce up to ex- 
pectations during 1978. 
The dabbler index was 255,900 (down 15% from 1977 
and 28% below average). Mallards totaled 119,300 (up 
9% from 1977 but down 16% from the 10-year average). 
Blue-winged and cinnamon teal were down 52% from 
1977 and 45% from the average. Wigeon were down 
14% from 1977 and 48% from the 10-year average. 
Other dabblers produced better than in 1977, but were 
still below the average. Wood ducks were down 25% 
from 1977 but 25% above average. The diving duck index 
was 69,800 (up 6% from 1977 but 16% below average). 
Redheads totaled 20,600 (down 24% from 1977 and 33% 
from the 10-year average). Canvasbacks were also down 
56 and 43%, respectively. Scaup totaled 12,100 (up 21% 
from 1977 but down 19% from the average). Ring- 
necked ducks, buffleheads, and ruddy ducks all showed 
increases over 1977 and the 10-year average. 
The Canada goose production index was 14,500, which 
reflected no change from 1977, whereas goose production 
in north central Washington and Columbia Basin areas 
was up from 1977. Areas along the Yakima River drain- 
age produced well in 1978. However, coyote predation on 
Columbia River islands on Atomic Energy Commission 
land continue to depress production there. Other Co- 
lumbia River areas produced well, except John Day Pool 
where 25% of the breeding geese nesting on islands died 
of poisoning by heptachlor. 
