95 
per lake and pothole was calculated for two of four North Central Washington breeding 
units based on observation of 83 lakes and potholes. A minimum of 248 lakes and 
potholes were located by aerial counts. ; 
In Western Washington waterfowl production, estimated by Robert G. Jeffrey, 
were based on sample counts made within the various breeding habitats. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
ga arrestin renner 
A prolonged, cold spring retarded early nesting waterfowl throughout most 
of the State. In Eastern Washington, which is the major waterfowl production area, 
these conditions had some detrimental effects on mallard production. Surface water 
conditions were more favorable in June of 1950 than for the same period of 1949. In 
Central Washington early nesters were retarded. However, an excessive run-off 
created better habitat bordering streams. Retarded vegetation caused some desertion 
among nesters and provoked a slight shift of the breeding population to more sheltered 
habitat. In Western Washington, although nesting was retarded, no serious losses 
resulted from the weather. 
Breeding Population Trends 
ee er 
In Eastern Washington, the major waterfowl producing area, the same sixteen 
species of ducks and Canada geese and coots which were found in previous summers, 
were recorded again in 1950. There was a considerable change in relative abundance, 
,and total abundance of some species. Although there was about a 35 percent decline in 
mallard production in the broods in 1950, the mallard still remained the most abundant 
duck in the area. Mallards were followed in abundance by blue-winged teal, gadwall, 
redhead, baldpate, and ruddy ducks, respectively, each species having had more than 
100 broods tabulated during the summer. , 
Table 1 summarizes by area, all the broods observed and their relative 
abundance during the summer of 1950. Gadwall, ruddy ducks, shovelers, and pintails 
increased substantially over their 1949 production, while redheads, and the blue-winged/ 
cinnamon teal group decreased. There is some indication from the spring ratio count 
of resident males in breeding plumage that the teal decline was about equal in both 
species, 
Table 1, -- Total Broods Observed by Areas in Eastern Washington, 1950 
(Number in parenthesis is percentage of total broods for each species) 

Species Areal Area2 Area3 Area4 Area5 Area6é Misc. Total 







38 | 54 45 24 61 15 17 254 
‘Mallard (18.0) (33.3) (21.4) ( 7.7) (18.5)° (11.6) (65.4) (18. 4) 
cae eh 1 21 ge 2 7 I 120. 
Redhead -_ ( 6.6) (13.0) (10.5) (8.1) (2.1) (23.3) (3.8) (8.7) 
fae ie ; Z ht 
Ruddy duck oe i : : Re : 
= 3 10 20 37 28 7 135 
 Gadwall (15.6) (6.2) (9.5) (11.9) (8.5) (5.4) ( 9.8) . 








PaiSSiE wea MAY CNR tga). Gee). Gene) aelann ( 7.8) 
ee oe YESS Sara ae OEM NR | : 
G-w. teal (13.7) (0.6) (7.6) (4.5) (6.4) (0.8) Cé..08 

