WATERFCWL BREEDING CONDITIONS IX BRITISH COLUMBIA - 1949: 
David 4. Munroe 
I ductio 
Daring the summer of 1°49, the British Columbia Game Commission and the 
University cf British Solunbis Department of Zoolory continued waterfowl btand- 
ine mativities evecesrfully initiated in 1948, U0, 4. Munro, Dominion Wildlife 
Cfficer fer Britieh Columbia, made Further observations of waterfowl on aA series 
of key lukee in the Caribou FPerklandse. 3D. A. Munro, Wildlife Fanogement Officer, 
eno E, F. Mackay, Technical Assistant, Dominion Wildlife Service, have carried 
on intensive investigations in the Upper Columbla Valley and made hrief Surveys 
ef other areae in the Eootensy region. Some aerial transects were run in the 
mounteinous portion of the Province by the U. &. Fish and Wildlife Service. 
The transect ¢data vere not received in time to be incorporated in this report, 
however, ec a chert summary written by Eobert H. Smith and Cherles H. Lawrence 
te appended to thie report. 
Cheervatio in the @ hou TE 
Water concitions in the Caribou have become progressively more favourable 
to waterfowl requirements ¢uring the laet three yeare. Threvehout this ecmmer 
the woter-table hat ween high anc the amount of waterfowl nesting and feeding 
hatitat Fas heen highly satisfactory. 
.. ?The condition of the waterfowl populations hee been lese eo. Compariscon 
of the counte teken on Fey lakes in mid-May of 1944, 1947, and 1949 (eee Table 
1.) indicates a reduction in the numbere of all especies of Gucks with the 
exception cf redhead anc canvasback, and a reduction in the numher of coote. 
Comperison of the fifores (Table 2.) obtained on 17 key mershes in 1°48 
{June 19 - July =} and 1949 (Joly 5 - July 12) does not show any ei:-iftecant 
difference in the total population, except in the counte for the rvccy cuch 
which indicate a serious decline. The larger number of adult belcpate in 194 
fe accounted fer by the inclusion of several bande cf post-breesive males. Fo 
each bands were cbheerved in 1949. The figures for sdult lesser ranup duck, 
Barrow's g¢¢lden-eye, anc tufflehead include counte of non-breeding vearlinge. 
Brood averages for the Caribou Parklands are given in Table 2, 
Observations in the Upper Columbia Valley 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Weather and water conditions in the Upper Columbia Valley have been 
eatisfactory curing 1949. The level of the Gclumbla River in early June wae 
prebebly slightly below average far the freshet period, in merked contraet 
to the situntion in 1948. The observed increase in breeding activity of 
haldpate, blue-winged teal, redhead, and canvasback may be related toa this 
eireumatance. The incubation period wae remarkably dry. Although rainfall 
throughout the summer hac been light and water levels have remained compare- 
tively low, no depreeaive effect on waterfowl populations ls likely to reenlt 
in this ares since eatiafactory water levelea are maintained by glacier-fed 
atLreame. 
p18) 
