
30 
almost completely lacking. Much of the parkland pothole habitat reflected like condi- 
tions. Asa result, selected areas were used to gather most of the nest data, but due 
both to the lateness of the nesting season and the erratic nature of the nesting, it was 
not possible to make many completed nest histories on these locations. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Despite the fact that there was a good snowfall during the past winter, run-off 
was very slow in the spring and most of the water was absorbed into the soil. Sub-soil 
moisture reserves were very low this spring and rainfall was light in April and non- 
existent in May and most of June. Surface water and sub-soil reserves continued to 
deteriorate rapidly during this period. Nevertheless, the moisture accumulation 
during the winter of 1949-1950 was sufficient to show a marked improvement of 
surface water conditions on the prairies in May. The rapidity of its disappearance 
and its position in relation to the condition of the breeding grounds in the past three 
years may be noted in Table l. 
Table 1. -- Water Areas on Ground Transects from 1948 to 1950 




Type May 1948 May 1949 June 1949 May 1950 June 1950 
Prairies 1904 234 244 808 334 
Transition 535 127 82 298 116 
Parklands .- 1886 426 298 675 281 
TOTALS 4325 787 624 1781 731 
The situation in May of 1948 may be considered good, as far as water 
conditions are concerned. Using this as a base figure, we find that 1949's drought 
resulted in a loss of 81 percent of the water present in May of 1948. In May of 1950 
we find a 126 percent improvement over 1949, but this figure is very deceptive, as 
itis still a loss of 58 percent over 1948 conditions. By June of 1949 Alberta had lost 
21 percent of the ground water present on the transects in May, but in June of 1950 
there had been a decrease of 58 percent of the water present the month before. This 
helps to classify the temporary nature of the apparently improved water conditions in 
May. Most important of all in analyzing the water conditions on the breeding grounds 
in 1949 and 1950 is to stress the great difference which prevailed in the two drought 
years when the birds arrived in the spring. Last year the water was not present on 
the prairies when the ducks came. As a result, they moved on to more suitable areas. 
This year, the water was present in sufficient quantities for the ducks to begin nesting. 
Not only was this true, but one of the most important of the early breeders, the 
pintail, showed a 32 percent increase in population over the 1949 figures. With the 
rapid disappearance of water in the south as the nesting season advanced, these early 
nesters (pintails and mallards) were forced to desert their nests and seek water else- 
where. Thus, we find that the drought of 1949 was of such intensity in early spring 
as to assure a better production of waterfowl than might normally be expected because 
the ducks moved on to better areas. This year, the drought areas acted as a trap, 
causing the birds to nest. This in turn was followed by mass desertions in many 
southern areas. 
After a cool, windy May, characterized by many dust storms and severe 
soil drifting, the first light rains began to fall inlate June. This precipitation was 
of no value to the ducks, though it was of value to the wheat. Not until July and 
August did sufficient rain come to insure against any great changes in existing water 
levels until such time as the ducklings would be on the wing. Despite pronouncements 
to the contrary, these rains did not change the picture as far as 1950 waterfowl 
production was concerned, except so far as already stated, - it safeguarded the water 
levels of remaining water areas and prevented further losses of existing broods or of 
