Upland Sans and Wuskrats 
Observations on upland sams and muskrets were made for the Manitoba Game 
and Fishsriss Branch in connection with the weterfowl productivity study. 
Discussion 
Tabla 1 shows ths results of 4 corsragss of tna 12 transscts in tarma of 
bresding peira, total ducks, and breeds. 
The period May 14 to Tuna 6 probably representa the highest density of 
breeding pairs at any time during the season, for broods ars just beginning to 
appear and most ducks intending to breed om the transect ars now established, 
Thus no segment of the breading population is misaed, 
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The bresding-pair figurs during the period July 5 to 24 is mads up 
chiefly of maternal females and probebly unsuccessful females. Very fow malss 
are found along ths transect at tnis time, 
A trus representation of ruddy and lesser sesaup broods is not given in 
the Tablas, for many nests of these two specise were still in the incubation 
stags at the time of ths Brood survey. [Tt mieht be mentioned that broods of 
the diving-duck apecies renerally are much more sasily observed during a brood 
survey than are broods of the dabtbler group of ducks. In vothole habitat, 
divyine-duck broods moys to the open water when disturbed while dabbler broods 
seck the dense cover along the marging of the potholg. 
opseies not listed in Tabla 1, but found in relatively small numbers in 
District &, ars ring-nsck, folden-eys, and bufflehead, Productivity data on 
coots and grebea were alse gathered during the season but ara not ranorted hers. 
Table 2 18 8 comparison of breeding population and production figures 
obtained from regular transect coverage with comparable figurss from ths 
apacial-study potholss. 
For purposes of comparison, population data from special-study pothalss 
wera excluded in computing population figures for ths reeular transects, 
Therefore, in Table 2 population fipures for remilar transacts diffsr from 
those given in Table 1 where spetial-study pathols data were included in calcu- 
lating the regular tranaact figures. 
It would assem that the study earsasa should yield propzrasaively higher 
population figures than the rezular transects as the seaaon advances, for the 
dense vagstation found later in the ssasen offere concealment that will cause 
birds to bs overlooked unless ths pothels is covered carsfully. Ths April 29 
to May 7 period upsets this trend, however, end a ¢reater diaparity is found 
between study area and resular transset figures at this tims than at any other. 
In all instances, the intensive coverage producad 4 preater differences 
in the breeding-psir figures than in tetal dueks and a still greater variation 
in number of broods, 
