Table 1. --Asrial Waterfowl Surveys in the State of Montana, May-June -1949 






Total 
Tren- Lineal Square Total Birds per 
Area sects Milss Miles Birds Sq. Mils 
Northern Glaciated 26 1340 335 1865 5.6 
Great Falls Pisdmont 12 551 138 1194 8.7 
Southern Unglaciated Prairis 
Trend Area 1 |) 100 &% coverages - 210 314 1.5 
Trend Area 2 100 % coverage - 27 143 0.5 
Trend Arsa 3 100 % coverags - 36 119 3.3 
Transects (2) 13 757 189 481 2 aS 
Total - - 705 1057 ks5 
Western Mountains 
Trend Area A 9 Gee 9 486 bdo Q 
Trend Area B 2 48 12 563 46.9 
Transects 
Bitterroot Valley 3 95 24, 63 (3) aaa 7 
Flathead Valley 4 184 33 510 a525 


(1) U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Missouri River Basin Studies. 
‘(2) In cooperation with Missouri River Basin Studies. 
(3) Included in this total are 110 Canada geese, 
The Great Falls Piedmont Region was seemingly the most attractive area to 
waterfowl. More than 60 percent of the total water areas available were occupied. 
(Table 2). The psrcent of occupancy for the other areas in the State ranged from 
52 percent in the southern unglaciated prairies to 37 percent in the northern 
glaciatsd plains region. What would happen if more water areas were available 
due to a wet ssason is at present a matter of speculation. It is thought, however, 
that more watsrfowl would remain in Montana, thereby increasing thse number of 
breeding birds. We shall arrive at the correct answer to this problem only 
through futures studies. 
Water arsas were classified as permanent, intermediates, or temporary, accord- 
ing to standards sstablished by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The percent 
of occupisd water for sach classification did not vary excessively between areas 
in any but the intermediate class (Tabls 2). A possible explanation for the 
greater percent of occupancy of the intermediate class in the Great Falls Piedmont 
area may lis in a study of the irrigation practices prevalent throughout the 
area. Irrigation streams and waste water ponds are present sach year in areas 
of good food and cover. These water areas dry up in the fall of the year. Thus, 
they provides the essentials of a permanent water area without possessing all of 
the qualifications. 
131 
