Species Composition 
The species composition of the breeding population based on the numbers 
of paired birds observed on thse trensects appears in Teble 3. As was true for 
the 1948 breeding season, 94 percent of the breeding ducks were puddlers. Blus- 
winged teal was again the most abundant species, comprising 44 pereesnt of the 
total population and showing an increase of 3 percent of the total population. 
The pintail and mallard were again the next most numerous species and made up 
18 percent and 17 percent of the total population respectively. Ths pintails 
dscreased and the mallards increased by 1 percent of the total population. Ths 
_shoveler ranked fourth, comprising 9 percent of the pairs of ducks observed on 
the transects. This species decreased 3 percent in respect to the total number 
of ducks observed. The redhead was again the most abundant of the diving ducks 
and made up 3 percent of the total population - a decreases of 1 percent of the 
total population. The other four species of ducks present, baldpate, scaup, 
ruddy, and canvasback, each comprised 1 percent or less of the total population, 
and showed no change in their relative positions as components of the total 
breeding population. 
Table 3. --Species Composition of tho Breeding Waterfowl Population, 
as Indicated by Ground Transscts 








1948 Percent 1949 
Species Composition* Total Ducks- Pairs Percent 
| No. Percent No. Percent Changs * 
Mallard 16 1512 16 925 49 24 
Gadwall 4 539 6 286 5 +1 
Baldpate 1 | 719 1 AY ef - 
Pintail 19 147.2015 954 18 = 
B-w teal Al 4573 4? — 2418 44 + 3 
Shovelsr 12 , 886 9 497 9 Se) 
Total | a 
Puddlers 94 9040 93 5129 94 = 
Redhead L 315 3 169 3 2 i 
Canvasback ~ 26 - 14 = - 
Scaup 1 253 3 64 el = 
Ruddy 1 98 ol 60 1 - 
Total oe 
Divers 6 692 7 307 6. - 
Total . a ~* 
All 100 9732 100 5436 100 
Coot | | , = "58 

* Based on paired birds. 
173 
