Fifteen Canada goose nests were located on the Jasper-Pulaski State Game 
Preserve, and 18 nest boxes were occupied by wood ducks. 
Although the geese that nest in thie marsh each season can hardly be 
compared with birds nesting in a natural wild state, the following data are 
included as a matter of interest. The earliest nest was located on March 26. 
It was occupied by the goose but no eggs were present. On April 1, however, 
7 eges were present, indicating that the first one must have been deposited 
on March 26. A brood of day-old goslings was observed with their parents on 
April 27. Migrant geese were still utilizing the preserve in mid-May, but 
left shortly after. Stragglers were scattered over the State until May 27. 
On this date, 4 were encountered on the White River, in southwestern Indiana. 
The one black duck brood, observed on June 9, was estimated to have 
hatched about May 12, and the first blue-winged teal brood appeared about 
June 10. 
Baldpate, pintail, green-winged teal, shoveler, canvasback, bufflehead, 
lesser scaup, and ruddy ducks were observed from time to time from May 1 to 
July 31. For the most part, these consisted of single birds or of small 
groups which were probably stragglers, as none of the above species were 
reported to be nesting. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Heavy rains which occurred near the end of March kept rivers in the 
southern one-third of the State at flood stages through the first week in 
April. However, for the State as a whole, rainfall was slightly below normal 
during April. Normal temperatures prevailed during the month and nesting 
began unhampered. 
. May was a variable and stormy month with poorly distributed rains and 
wide temperature fluctuations. Local storms occurred in various parts of the 
State which may have been harmful to nesting waterfowl. The Muscatatuck River 
was raised quickly to flood stage by a flash-flood during the second week of 
Mey. Since this coincided with the hatching of wood ducks along the river, 
some loss may have resulted. This seems to be borne out in the low average 
of 5.1 young per brood in 19 Class I broods observed on this river on May 25. 
Potholes located in the northeastern section of the State were well- 
filled throughout May. A rather cool, rainy period persisted from about 
May 15-25, but no adverse effects on nesting ducks were noted. 
June and July temperatures and precipitation were about normal. By the 
last week in July, temporary potholes in Steuben and LaGrange counties were 
dry, but most young ducks were on the wing and out of danger. On this last 
visit, one flock of 170 mallards and black ducks was observed and blue-wings 
were congregating in evident preparation for the southward flight which would 
begin soon. 
Nesting Success 
Relatively little information was secured with regard to hatching success 
and brood survival. Seven Canada goose nests with complete clutches contained 
7, 6, 6, 6, 5, 3, and 3 eggs, respectively. Two broken eggs were found lying 
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