in general we feel that weather and water conditions over southern 
Saskatchewan were exceptionally favourable for the 1950 waterfowl population. 
Breeding Population Trends 
ne ee 
By the end of April most of southern Saskatchewan's nesting grounds were 
ready for their.annual influx of waterfowl. At that time a series of low pressure areas 
with vigorous cold front activity swept across the northern tier of states bringing snow, 
freezing rains, and winds of gale force. The worst of this weather passed south and 
east of Saskatchewan, but it kept mean temperatures 10-15 degrees below normal over 
most of the Province. These storms passing across the flight routes of the Central 
and Mississippi Flyways brought all migration to an abrupt halt. On May 10, the 
Dakotas reported that many non-breeding birds were stalled there because of the 
weather. By May 12, the situation resolved itself and ducks began to move into 
Saskatchewan. The Dakotas then reported a 'more normal" waterfowl picture, and 
the ground and aerial work in Saskatchewan started on May 14 and 15 respectively , 
Table 1. -=- Aerial Data Collected During 1948, 1949, and 1950 
a a en 
1948 1949 1950 
Flight Hours 81.2 87.0 60.0 
Number of Transects 112 125 45 
Total Survey Area 121,900 sq. mi. 121,900 sq. mi. 121,900 sq. mi. 
Size of Sample 1,612.4" 1,347.3" 1,118.5" " 
Total Ducks Seen 30, 300 15,402 ~ 14,772 
Ducks per square mile 18.7 11.4 13.2 
POPULATION TREND 
Compared with 1949 up 15.8% 
Compared with 1948 down 29.4% 
Total Water Areas 45,110 9, 895- 16, 946 
Water per square mile 27.9 i, 15.4 
WATER TREND 
Compared with 1949 up 110.9% 
Compared with 1948 down 44. 8% 

Table 2. -- Data Collected by Ground Transect Method - 1948, 1949 and 1950 * 



Period Ducks Pairs - Total 
i as Sq. mi. per per water Total No. Total No. 
Sampled Sq.mi. sq. mi. areas pair ducks 
May 11-June 10, : 
1948 687.4 17.3 8.9 11,010 6,155 11,920 
May 5-21, 1949 687.4 10.7 4,7 ' 2,679 3,225 7, 400 
May 14-29, 1950 687.4 16.3 7.4 8, 375 5,120 11,055 
ae A a ii ea ED cf tN i PR a SSP EP EPID 
: 1950 f _ 
picid 212 58% 49% 
Increase Tre % b o 
aint 23% 15% AM% 
Decrease 194 
© 
re ea EE SS ST Ee 
* Data adjusted so as to compare 1948, 1949,. and 1950, " 

