Southern Unglaciated Prairies Region 
The characteristic of the terrain and of the spring run-off conditions in 
this semi-arid area encourages the construction of large numbers of stock-water 
reservoirs. Thess reservoirs provides the major portion of available waterfowl 
-habitat. Therefore, in order to better understand the contributions that reser- 
voirs make to waterfowl production in southeastern Montana, personnel of ths 
Missouri River Basin Studies and of the State Fish and Game Department's Pittman- 
Robertson Division, undertook a coopsrative appraisal of these reservoirs. Thres 
arsas were chossn in which a 100 percent asrial census of water areas was made 
(Figure 1). Spsciss composition, total numbers, and general information on 
reservoir conditions were recorded during each flight. Fach area was completely 
censused by air twice, once as an indication of the number of breeding birds and 
once ag an indication of production., These areas, with the possible addition 
of more, ars to bs used as trend areas for waterfowl production in this unglaciated 
prairis region. In additign to tke census of the trend areas, several transects 
were flown in order to give a more complete picture of the area under considsration 
{Figure 1). . - 
An attempt to roadside census of this area proved ineffectual. Consequently, 
a survey of individual reservoirs was begun in order to establish the waterfowl 
potential of an average reservoir. ‘This information coupled with reliable infor- 
mation on ths number of reservoirs in a particular section should yield the 
information we are sesking. The project was well started this year with the aid 
of two student assistants. Three-hundred and ninsty-six reservoirs were visited 
and information pertaining to waterfowl production was recorded. Information 
regarding total number of reservoirs was gathered from the 5.C.S., A.A.A., and 
from any other agency, State or Federal, that could provide information. 
Western Mountainous Area 
The methodology of waterfowl census in mountainous areas has not besn 
refined and standardarized to the sxtent of the plains area census. Two trend 
areas were established which will be censussd intensively ysar after year. The 
census areas, one in the Flathsad Valley and ons in the Blackfoot Valley, ars 
both terminal morainss. Comparatively large concentrations of breeding birds 
uss these arsas. This heavy usage of these localized areas increases their values 
as trend indicators. Permanent acrial census strips involving 13 percent of the 
land area were established in the Flathead area. Flights were also made on the 
Blackfoot area and also in the Bitterroot Valley (Figure 1). The Bitterroot 
Vallsy is located along the Southern tributary of the Clark’s Fork River. 
Psrmanent ground transects were established in both the Flathead and Black- 
foot arsas. It was felt that ground transects in the Blackfoot area yislded mors 
reliable information than asrial transscts and, therefore, were utilized more 
intensively. Ground transects were also run in other mountain valleys in order 
to complete thse production picture in ths mountainous area, 
Climatic Conditions 
Drought conditions were experienced in the State of Montana during the 1949 
season. 
During the spring of 1948 precipitation was gensrally above normal; run-off 
water was abundant in some areas and flood conditions were common to many of the 
principal rivers. This sarly abundance of water was somewhat offsst by dry 
129 
