
38 
We found that the May waterfowl population of southern Saskatchewan was an 
improvement over the low population of 1949, but not as high as the 1948 population. 
The pintail supply continues to be short. This bird was the most abundant 
duck in 1947 and 1946, and in 1949 it was down considerably in numbers. We assumed 
that the 1949 droughts in the southern part of the Province had caused a movement of 
pintails to areas of abundant water, but the species showed no recovery this year despite 
the abundant water and late breakup in the north. The mallard shows the most sub- 
stantial increase in numbers in 1950. This bird is now the most abundant duck breeding 
in Saskatchewan, partly because of its own measurable increase, but perhaps chiefly 
because of the decline in numibers of its former competitors for the leading position. 
Blue-winged teal showed little change from its numbers in 1949, Baldpate showed a 
slight recovery over 1949 populations while the shoveler recorded no change. Divers 
were present in normal numbers with the redhead showing the best increase of that 
group, 
This year's aerial survey took in more of the blank regions in the upper aspen 
belt and the edge of the coniferous forest than did the ground survey. The aerial 
transect averages can therefore be expected to run lower than those of the ground 
transects, 
Best waterfowl populations were found in the southern part of the surveyed 
area in the short-grass prairie and the southeastern end of the aspen belt. Water 
conditions were very satisfactory in these regions, and in view of the late start of the 
1950 season it is probable that many birds accepted the first good-looking pothole they 
could find rather than push further north. There is little evidence this year of a 
movement northward into the edge of the coniferous forest. 
No broods were observed during the May coverages of the aerial and ground 
transects. 
Success of the Season 
The 1950 season got off to a very late start. No broods had been noted along 
the transects up to May 29, although some grouping of male mallards and pintails was 
observed. Broods were seen as soon as the second coverage got under way in earnest 
on July 10, 
As this year was the first in which a brood count had been attempted from the 
air we have no aerial data from previous years that might be used for comparison with 
current figures. Because of the late start of the ground survey, and the short period 
within which we had to obtain the information, the ground work had to be simplified. 
The ground crew merely tabulated total adults and broods seen on the 1/4-mile strip 
over the transects. No effort was made toward "beating-out" areas because of the 
shortage of personnel and the limit on time. As it turned out, even with these simpli- 
fications, the ground survey required more than the allotted period for completion of 
the 3,500 miles of transects. There are, therefore, no ground data that can be com- 
pared directly with data from previous years. 
Aerial data obtained during the July coverage are presented herewith in table 
form, , 
Ducks/sq. mi. Ponds/sq. mi. Broods/sq. mi. 
a a ne 
May July May | July July 
I I EI SB RS a a a EEO I EH 
Provincial Averages 13.2 5.8 15.4 5.7 0.9 

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