This population or flyway theory originated in the late 1930's 
when Lincoln (1939), basing his conclusions on the only significant 
amount of data at that time, the Cape Cod bandings, stated the case as 
outlined above. Hagar (1945, 1946) later presented a thorough and 
detailed analysis of the Cape Cod bandings which he used as evidence 
of the existence of this more-or-less regional population. These in- 
vestigators quite logically drew the conclusions they did, because the 
Cape Cod bandings were then the only important sources of data upon 
which to base judgment. About 1946 in Maine and 1947 in Quebec, Labrador, 
and Newfoundland, new stations were established for sampling the popula- 
tions to the north. Sufficient numbers have been banded to indicate an 
entirely different pattern of movement than recognized by Lincoln and 
Hagar. These recent bandings show that throughout the fall there are 
black ducks flying coastal New England from their northern breeding 
grounds in Canada to wintering grounds from New England to the Carolinas. 
The importance or size of these flights to areas south of New 
England has yet to be determined. Part of the answer can be obtained 
through indirect recoveries from blacks banded on the wintering ground 
in southern New Jersey and states to the south. These recoveries will 
be presented and discussed later in the report. 
Conneeticut 
The next important group of bandings is from Connecticut, 
where most of the oanding was dme during the fall and spring. Practic- 
ally none was done during the winter period. The bulk of the banding 
in the fall was carried out during the shooting season giving a total 
of 193 direct recoveries and 92 indirect. Of the direct recoveries 
there are only 34 available from birds banded before the hunting season. 
At least half a dozen stations are involved with the principal locations 
near the coast in the vicinity of Saybrook and East Lyme, and of lesser 
importance, on fresh water at Litchfield. 
The Connecticut birds exhibit a major migration into the Mid- 
Atlantic states from New Jersey to North Carolina. Approximately 44 
percent of the recoveries from birds banded before the hunting season 
(total 34) were taken in this mid-Atlantic region. If Long Island were 
included the figures would jump to 59 percent. Even with direct recov- 
eries including those banded during the shooting season, in which 77 
percent of the recoveries (total 136) were taken locally, there is evid- 
ence of close ties with populations in the states from New Jersey to 
South Carolina. In this southern region approximately 16 percent of 
the recoveries were reported. With the 92 indirect recoveries the 
pattern is somewhat the same as with the northern stations in that the 
limit of distribution does not extend as far south (Virginia) as it does 
with direct recoveries. Here again a heavy local kill is exhibited (62 
percent) and approximately 11 percent was reported from New Jersey south. 
The distribution of records from spring bandings (117 recoveries) conforms 
very closely to the indireet recoveries from fall bandings. 
-17- 
