WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND STUDIES IN CENTRAL WASHINGICN - 1949 
Wendell H. @Lirer 
The survey of waterfowl breeding grounds in Central Washington during 
the summer of 1949 was a continuance of similar, although less extensive, 
atutiies conducted in 194%. This survey entalled the collection of data on 
nesting, the gummer population, its spectes and relative abundance, and tne 
total preduction of waterfowl in Eittitas, Yakima, Benton, and Walla Walla 
Countien. 
Although a comparatively dry summer was exnerilenced during 1945, there 
wae no apparent decline in the waterfowl breeding population. With the 
Togeihle excertion of areas in Walla Walla County, waterfowl production ia 
believed to have incrensed over 1948, Hesgultea of the 1948 eurvey are shown, 
colparetively, wherever they may be indicatitre. 
Nesting Succegg snd Breeding Species 
Favorable nesting conditions permitted an earlier, lengthy breeding 
season in 1°49. Mallarde were known to be nesting aa early as March 26, 
probasly reveral weeks eArlier than the first 1948 nester, and newly-hatched 
redhead breads were observed ln late August. Nesting studlese, based on 
pericdic observations of 26 duck nests, concluded that SF.5 percent cf the 
céntral Washington nesters had a successful hatch, 
muring the summer etucier §39 waterfowl breods and 2,36A resicent 
waterfowl were inventorléed in 4 suh-divisions af the central Washington sree. 
An additional 2,800 waterfowl, presumably jureniles, were counted in large 
flying greape in early August. Brood surveys indicated that coot and 14 
especies of ducke nested eucceesfully during the 194° seseon {Table 1). 
Table 1. -- Brocd Speclee Composition 
19 449 19464 
Specie Tot F ny Tota Fercent Total 
Mallara aes 63.56 L456 57.58 
Gadwall & 1.8 Py .8 
Tiutail 19 4,4 4 de 
Gaw., teel la z.8 7 8 
B-w. teal 7.eo°" 5,2*" 
Cinnemcn tepl 6o* 6.1** 44 12.2 
Shoreler 12 7.8 a -§ 
Balépate 2 5 i 4 
Wood éuck 20 4.6 11 4,4 
Red hend 17 4.0 ao le.? 
Herleguin duck 4 4 
Badexy cuck 3 6 1 4 
amerionn merganeer 1 F 12 o 1.2 
Identified Total ace 100.0 252 100.0 
Unidentified Total 
40 
rad 
Coot Tctel 67 
Grand Total 
Bad 
fg 
* Combined tote] of bliue-winged and cinramon teal btrocde 
** Representative percentege commuted from ifentified males 
193 
