WAPTERTOWL BREEBING GROUND SURVEY IN MINNESOTA 1949 
Forrast 2, Lae 
The 1949 Breeding Ground Survey was conducted by ths Arosa Geme Managers 
of Pittman-Robartson Project l1-R for the purpoas of sreluatlog ths presant 
status of migratory waterfowl in Minnesota with roferencs te numbers, reproduc- 
tive sucesss, distribution and movements. In most ¢ases, work of a aimilar 
néture had basen done in previous years, thus permitting a comparison of data 
of present end past, Such comparisons point out trends in the waterfowl situation. 
Mieration data wars collsectsd by seven Arse Gama Managers in 23 countiaa, 
during March, April, and May. Automobile transscts to msasure the breading 
waterforl population wers run in May in #8 Game Management Areas (46 countiss), 
Canogs and walking transect routes were run in 5 Game Management Arsag during 
Hay. Brood counts were conducted from Tunes 28 to August & on 50 water bodjas 
in 9 Game Management Areas. An asrial rasident waterfowl count was flown bstwean 
August 16 and 22 in whith 2,222 wiles of flight lins wars coversd.— 
Methoais 
Specific lakes or water arsas wers visited periodiesliy during the spring 
months and numbers and spsacies of mifratory waterfowl present wers recorded, 
The automobile transect method sonsisted of driving over certain routes 
that had been leid out in previous years, end recording the number of bresding 
pairs, lens drakes, lone hens, or unmated flocks by species, that were sen 
1/@ mile on sither side of the rend. Ths number and size of oecupisd and un- 
oteupied water areas ware recorded, Similar information wes collected on ths 
canoe and walking transe*t routes. Brood counts ware made by canoeing or walk- 
ing along the shorelins of laksa and streams end recording numbers, sizs, end 
age class of broods as well as numbers of maternal females and other waterfowl 
by, specias. Two observers accompanied the pilot on the asrial resident water- 
fowl count and recordsd the total number of waterfowl seen 1/8 mils on aither 
sides of the plans. Thess numbers were broken down by species aa fer £8 poesibles, 
1949 Spring Migration Data 
Detailed observations of epring waterfowl migration wers made in Aitkin, 
Anoka, Heltremi, Blus #arth, Big Stone, Cass, Carver, Crow Ving, Makota, Freeborn, 
Goodnuse, Itasca, Kandivehi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Will Lacs, Nicollet, Pops, 
Fomsey, Ries, Scott, Swift, and Waseca Counties. Totals of 17,499 ducks, 1,880 
meass, and 1,044 coots wers recorded. 
The percent composition of ducks was as follows: Lesser sesup 40.98, ring- 
necksd 26,1], pintail 10.33, mallard 7.90, baldpate 4.97, polden-sye 45.51, 
redinend 4.55, blus-winged teal 9.85, canvausback 3.25, shoveler .77, unidentified 
ducks .6&, red breasted merranser .34, bufflehesad .21, ruddy duck .17, American 
merranser ,O&, wood duck .O4, green-wingsd teal .93, black duck .O2, gadwall .Ol. 
Retwaen April 1 and 28, 92.93 peresent af ths 17,499 ducks wera talliod, 
The peak of migration apparently was between theses dates. 24.43 percant of ths 
ducks ware observed in March. IL.21 pereent were recorded during the first week 
of April; 23.24 percent durine the second week; 11.34 percent during the third 
week; and 47.34 pareent during the fourth week. 3.46 percant wore ooted in the 
two weeks between April 29 and May 12. 
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