The cata on populations as such are of little value to the reader at present, 
eince there wae no eifilar coverage laet year. 
The total number of broods and the average size recorded during the 
epring survey by co-operaAtorse are given below! 
Species Rumber broods Average eize 
Black duck 118 7.2 
Wood duck 31 72 
Mallard 2 7.3 
Golden-ey« 9 6.5 
Reporte (moet of them not based on previous data) from co-operatore in 
both the United States and Canada indicsted a moderate increase in the tleck 
duck, & substantial increase in the ring-neck and wood duck and no change in 
the mallard and golden-eye. SBlue-winged teal and pintall, although in Limited 
numbers, continued to increase. Green-winged teal, which eccurred in large 
numbers last sutumn, are believed to be maintaining their increase. Caneda 
eecee and brent continued thelr marked increage. 
Summer Brood Survey 
Ground Survey jin Canada: Tahle 2 gives the data obtained in the Maritimes 
for tidal and fresh-water habitats. The acrenges and milesges fiven were 
scaled from mapée and are rough approximations. No mileages are given for 
marsh habitate. 
Nove Scotia proved to be relatively unproductive of black ducks. 
Unfortunately, this Frovince was surveyed first, with the consequence that 
by the time the more productive areae in New Brunawick and Prince Edward 
Teland were visited many black duck broode were awing and were frequently 
indistinguishable from adultes. 
Undoubtedly much of the waterfowl production in Nova Scotia takes 
place on small isolated fresh-water marsh areas (gee footnote, Table 2). 
An example of this was a ¢mall peeture swale of no more than two acres near 
Fanteport, Wova Scotia, where two black duck troode totaling 9 young nlus 3 
adult green-wings were found. More tlack duck broods were recorded on this 
small cattail mareh than in any of the large lakes surveyed in the province. 
Although climatic conditions were favorable for nesting, there was 
apparently a good deal of loss, ac many female black ducks unattached to 
neste or broode were encountered throughout the season. It is believed thet 
many of these birds never raiced a brood. The black duck and pintail are 
early nesters and suffer numerous logses, many from predation. Ring-necks 
pre et the height of their nesting in June, when the vegetation 1s high. 
Their first nestinge seem to be more successful. Ring-necks are more likely 
to nest over water, where the chance of loss from land predators 1f not so 
erent, 
There seemed to be & marked correlation hetween high productivity and 
the presence of saline or brackish (tidal) areas and alkaline waters. Few, 
if any, fame ducke were found in arene of strongly acid waters. The distri- 
bution of Pintails and teal in particular seemed to be restricted largely to 
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