
16 
Success of the Season 
pat ac PC A MEN EDEN 
While no brood survey was practical this year, observations of broods made 
during the population studies indicated an earlier hatch, which was probably in response 
to the abnormally warm spring and early summer. The first brood seen in the Arctic 
was that of a pintail on June 19 at Old Crow. On June 22 the first snow goose broods 
were seen at the mouth of the MacKenzie. Well developed young of Canada geese, 
white-fronted geese, and swans were seen near Perry River on July 22, and a Class 1 
king eider brood was seen at Cambridge Bay on July 24, Eiders are apparently 
normally quite late in nesting as on July 10 a few pairs were still seen inland, although 
at that time approximately 10,000 male king, Pacific and northern eiders were gathered 
in an open lead in the ice at Dolphin and Union Straits.. 
As far as climate is concerned the season should have been beneficial to the 
production of waterfowl. White foxes were more abundant than usual but it is not 
known what effect this might have had on nesting success. Bush fires were prevalent 
in the Slave River Parklands during July and possibly destroyed some nests and broods, 
Summary 
Considering only the areas where comparative data are available, an over-all 
decrease of 21.2 percent in the duck population is indicated. Taken by species the 
following show a decrease - mallard 63.7 percent; scoters 27.8 percent; canvasback 
27.4 percent; scaup 19.8 percent; baldpate 13.2 percent. Increases were shown for 
old-squaw 132.9 percent; golden-eye 40.0 percent and king eider 3.7 percent. There 
was no significant change in pintails. Most of the decrease is accounted for in the 
Lake Claire marshes and the wooded portion of the MacKenzie Delta; two of the most 
important areas in the region covered. All other areas except one, most of them of 
secondary importance, indicated increases but most of the increases by areas were 
accounted for by increases in old-squaws. This phenomenal increase in old-squaws 
may be the result of a change in fishery practices in the Great Lakes, the take of 
old-squaws in the nests being almost negligible last winter. 
Increases were noted for snow geese and white-fronted geese; Canada geese 
decreased and black brant showed no change. 
Climatically the breeding season was early and should have been successful. 
