Table 3. - Sun of 1949 Brood Data 
Ne, Ho. 
mpecics Broods Young Ay. Glacs I Clase IT Clase IT] 
Mal lard 21g 1,495 6.9 654/93(7.6) 376/51(7,4) 4as6/74ach x} 
Gadwall 35 271 7.8 219/28(6.7} sof 507.3) 13/ 2(8.5) 
Bajcpate 72 493 6.9 280/ae(e.7} 204/28(7.35) g/ 24,5) 
Pintail 76 479 6,3 155/22(7.0) 90/14(7.1) 225/40(5,6) 
G-w, Teal a5 174 7,0 62/8 (7.7) 61/ 9(6.9) 51/8 (6,4) 
B-w. Teal 248 1,957 7.9 1070/134¢8,0} 405/s1(8.0) 482/63(7.7) 
Shoveler 70 604 7.2 _g29/32 (7.2) 128/17(7.5) 147/21(7,0) 
Tabblere 744 5,573 7.2 2669/359(7.4) 1312/175(7.8) 1392/2106.6) 
Redhead 90 637 6.0 368/60(6,1) 243/25 (5.7) 26/ 5 (5.2) 
Canvaasback 333 1,902 5.8  996/176(5.6} 624/108(45.9)  s82fse (5,4) 
Scaup 30 228 7.6 197/27 (7,3) o1/ 3 Go 3} =---- 
Ruddy 83 629 6.4 437/70 (6.3) 92/13 (4,4) = ----- 
Miac. =e 169 5.8 jegfee (5.9) _B4a/ 6 (5,7) 6/1 (46.0) 
Divers S65 $3,365 6.0 22er/s5s(é6.0) g24/152(6.1) s14/se(s.4) 
All Dacka 1,309 8,706 6.7 4796/714(6.7} 2236/527(6.8) 1706/268(6,4)} 
The information presented in Table 2 when compared to nesting studies in 
other areas, suggests a rather poor nesting success, but Table & indicates good 
survival. While insufficient data are available for conelusive compariaone 
between 1948 and 1949 in the number of breeding palrs required ta produce 4 
brood, indications are that success per hen this year was wel] below the 1942 
level. 
There ere no comparable data for Manitoba +ith which to compare this 
year's nesting success rates. It is believed that losses due to farming 
operations were unusually high. Fredators caused heavy losses, but whether 
more than uswal is not known. Losses due to extremes of weather (freezes, 
flocds, wind tides on marches, halletorme, drovughte, ete) prohably were 
lighter than usual. There were some exceptions; widespread deatruction of 
late nests (mostly ruddy and redhead} oceurred on Whitewater Lake due to high 
winds and in District & due ta heavy rains. 
Post-nesting Period 
The number of young was determined by size clarsee in 744 dabblere and 
BGS giver broods (Table 4). Dabbler broode averaged 7.2 young; diver broods 
6.9, both together, 6.7. The brood average for dabhling ducks is the higheet 
obtained in three yeate, while that for divere is the lowest obtained during 
the eame period. From the downy young to the flying etage, the decline in 
brood size wae 12 percent in dabblere and 10 percent in divers, Srood data 
by species are summarized in Table 3. 
While 1949 can be clasreed as an unvewally favorable year for breeding 
ducke in Manitoha, it will aleo go down a@e the woret duck diseas¢ year on 
record, Fotuliam and other duck diseases cogt the lives of more than 60,000 
ducke on Whitewater Lake, Netley Mareh, Oak Lake, and Lake Winnipegosis. The 
Whitewater Lake die-off ic discuseced in a separate report hy Cooch. 
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