A GCOMPARISOWN CF THE RELATIVE FROCDUCTION CF WATERFOWL i 
WEW TORE STATE FOR 1946 ané 15949 
Robert W. Tarroy 
Beginning in 1946, eerial surveye of waterfowl] abundance in New fork have 
been made during the last week of Auguet and the first few dave of September. 
At thie time, the ducks produced locally have largely gathered on the principal 
weter areas and little migration from farther north hae taren place. Therefore, 
observations during that period may be considered a measure of local productiv— 
ity. 
Because of differencer in habits, the figures for any one year do not 
represent the relative abundance of the different species compared with e&ch 
other. Nevertheless, figurer for thé same species for a series af yeare may 
be compared to indicate the trend for that narticular apectes, 
These surveys have covered the whole State only for the yeare 194% and 
1949. Previously, Lake Champlain was covered in 1947 and the Ontario-St. 
Lawrence region in 1947 and 1948. Ina discussion of the data obtained through 
1948 (submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service last year), descriptions of 
the areas for which more than one year's recorda were available were included. 
Brief notes on the additional areas covered by the data for 1948 and 1949 are 
glven below. The ceneve methods weed were alec ceseribed in the above report, 
Additional Water Areas Covereg in {94% and 1949 
These areas have been grouped according to their location, namely, thone 
of Lake Ontario, the Central Lakea, the Rudeon Valley, and Long Island, respec- 
tively. 
The marskee along Lake Ontario, west of Oswezs, are roughly similar tao 
those described previously for the eastern end of the lake, although there are 
considerable atretches of unproductive shoreline. Water levels are eseentially 
dependent on the water level of Lake Cnteric, 
Water preas of the Gentral Lakes region include in part narrow, deep 
Takes (the typical Finger baker} « ve marshes are largely confined to the 
northern and southern ends, in pas’ shallow Lakes of which GCneid= is the chief 
example, and in part marah areas «! which Montezuma ia the major one. 
The Hudson Valley vrimarily iivalves marenes along the Audeon River 
proper from ite junction with the kchawk River south to Staten leland. Merzhes 
just above the touth of the Mohavk pre aleo included, ae are several large, 
water-supply reservoirs. The marahes along the Hudson vary constderably toth 
in alge and quality. Many have been affected detrimentally in recent years by 
industrial encroachment and by the disposition of spoil from dredging operations 
required to maintain the ship channel from New York Harbor to Albany. 
The entire shore of Long leland has been covered, as well as certain 
inland etreame and ponds. The most productive marehee lie along the scuth shore 
where extensive barrier beaches exist. The streams are mostly sluggish, inland 
extensions of the bayer they empty into, and afford considerable geod duck 
habitat, 
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