
65 
WATERFOWL SURVEY IN NORTH-WESTERN ONTARIO - 1950 
Lester W. Gray 
Introduction 
The primary objective of this survey by the Department of Lands and Forests 
was to locate a suitable area to set up a banding station. No attempt was made to fn 
a complete census, or to take representative samples, and the survey was made by 
one man working alone. Two regions were picked, and the water within these areas 
intensively studied to locate breeding concentrations. It was felt that the places used 
by comparatively large numbers of breeding birds would also be used by the fall flights, 
as good waterfowl habitat in this part of the Province is limited. 
Location of Areas 
The areas covered by the study were the district of Thunder Bay, and the 
district of Rainy River. 
Ten water areas were examined in the Thunder Bay district, from Cranberry 
Bay on Lake Superior at the eastern extreme to Whitefish Lake on the west. About 200 
miles of aerial reconnaissance was also flown. Of all areas examined, only Whitefish 
Lake was found to be favourable waterfowl habitat, and this was the only place where 
breeding birds were found in numbers. Most of the lakes were barren of marsh, and 
rimmed by rocky.or wooded shore-line. It was thought unwise to attempt banding on 
Whitefish, as it was a favourite shooting spot for gunners from Port Arthur and Fort 
William. In fact, the only place for many miles where duck shooting could be done. 
In the district of Rainy River two areas were examined. One consisting of part 
of the shore line of Caliper Lake and its tributary, Log River, and the other a series 
of artificial ponds on the private game reserve of Mr. J. A. Mathieu. The former area 
lies on the Kenora -- Fort Frances highway, about four miles south of Nestor Falls. 
The latter, on the Rainy River, about twelve miles west of Fort Frances. 
The better areas were checked, either by shore-line cruising in a canoe, or by 
walking. Reconnaissance work was done by jeep and aircraft. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
The spring and early summer were cold and wet, and rivers and lakes were 
badly flooded. Rainy River was well above normal as late as the middle of July. 
Conditions were thus far from ideal for breeding waterfowl. 
Predation by northern pike on diving duck broods in Whitefish Lake is thought 
to be extremely high. Blacks and mallards appear to fare better, due to the fact that 
they remain in the thick, weedy cover along the shore and seldom venture out on the 
open water where the other species were commonly found. They were thus relatively 
inaccessible to the predatory fish. 
The Caliper Lake area was cruised only once, so little information was obtained 
regarding brood survival. 
On the J. A. Mathieu section, brood survival appeared to be excellent. No 
large fish were present in these waters. 
