increase of 35.7 percent over 1948. At the Carlos Avery Refuge 159 ducks were 
noted in 1948 and 251 in 1949. This is an incrsase of 23.7 percent. Dredging 
operations are apparently having an adverse affect on duck populations on the 
Red Lake River in Pennington County. In 1948, 143 ducks were seen on 10 miles 
of river and in 1949 only 17 ducks and no broods were seen on this same 10 mils 
stretch. In 1948, 129 young and a total of 199 waterfowl were seen on Upper 
Twin Lake in Freeborn County. Ths 1949 figure was 158 young and 236 total 
waterfowl. A decreases was shown for Swan Lake in Nicollet County. In 1948 
360 young and a total of 569 waterfowl were seen. The 1949 figure was 90 young 
end a total of 141 waterfowl. Similarly, 63 young and a total of 1,769 water- 
fowl were recorded for Long Laks in Kandiyohi County in 1948 and in 1949, 52 
young with a total of 975 waterfowl were ssen. 
Asrial Resident. Waterfowl Count 
(See accompanying map) 
Ths asrial resident waterfowl count was flown by three biologists, one 
being the pilot, during: the second and third weeks of August. This was’ a repe- 
tition of the 1947 count in which a flight line of 2,222 miles was laid out in 
attempt to sample all of the various types, both topographic and vegetative, 
‘found within the Stats. The altitude flown varied from 50 feet to 200 feet and 
ths speed was approximately 100 milss per hour. The count included all water- 
fowl seen. within 1/8 mile on sither side of the plane. . The 2,222 miles of flight 
line represented a coverages of 555.55 square miles or a 2/3 of 1 percent sampls. 
of the State area. At the time of the 1947 count the State was divided into 
eight zones, following the pattern sot by the More Game Birds Foundation in thsir 
count of 1935, Density figures were prepared to compare with the results of 
1935. Thus the 1949 data are comparable to that of 1935 and 1947. 
A total of 52,229 waterfowl was recorded. The calculated waterfowl popula- 
tion per square mile was 94.0 as compared to 55.6 for 1947 and 7.1 for 1935. 
A considerable increase in waterfowl numbers is indicated by these figures. 
This increase is indicated for all zones except Zones 6 and 7. Following is a 
tabulation of the data by zones: _ : 
Summary of Aerial Waterfowl Count, August, 1949 
Percent Total Arga Calculated 
Sq. mi. ia Seen of Zones of Zone in Waterfowl per sq. mi. 
Zone Sampled 1947 1949 Sampled sq. miles 1935 1947 1949 

1 63.75 5,064 8,197 Tee * 7,134 Bu 79.5 128.6 
2 87.50 9,263 16, 742 0.8 ° 10,998 6.5 105.9 191.3 
3 37.50 0 660 0.3 11,461 2.0 - 17.6 
A 87.50 4,418 6, 309 0.5 16,626 20.5 50.5 72.1 
5 100.00 8,449 12,85. @27 15,100 7.6 84.5 128.5 
6 10.00 80 . 15 0.3 ' 3,540 10.4 8.0 4.5 
‘: 103.10 1,612 139 2.0 , 5 ONT 239 15.6 4.3 
8 66.20 2,009 6,986 Ooh 14,120 48 30.3 105.5 
pp EP EL PT TE SS SST TSE A I SSP HERP TS SS a EK ES EE TES 
555255 30,895 D2 229 E 84,196 
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