136 
of all eggs was double that of last year. This increase in predation was, no doubt, due 
in part to the inclement weather and the delayed growth of nesting cover. 
Table 2. -- Fate of Eggs in Nests Under Observation at Ogden Bay - 1950 

Total Cette tape Oe Ee ss ks 
Species Eggs Hatched Deserted in Nest Flooded Gulls Skunk Unknown 
Mallard 308% 158 17 13 4 103 13 -* 
Gadwall 301 233 6 13 -- a7 22 zon 
Cinn,. teal 629 312 83 35 44 123 9 z23 
Pintail 107 65 ee 17 -- 23 -- -: 
Redhead 204 71 14 36 -- 60 21 Z 
Shoveler 81 39 -- ] -- 27 14 -- 
G-w. teal 10 10 -- -- -- -- -- -- 
Total 1,640 888 122 115 48 363 79 25 
Percent 54.2 7.4 7.0 2.9 22.1 4.8 16 
* This table includes redhead eggs layed in other birds' nests. 
Table 3. -- Nesting Success at Ogden Bay Refuge - 1950 


Not Successful Successful Average Number of Eggs 
Species Nests No. Percent No. Percent Layed Hatched 
Mallard 37 16 43.2 21 56.8 8.9 * 7.5 
Gadwall 31 7 22.6 24 77.4 10,3 9.7 
Cinn. teal 67 29 43.3 38 56.7 . 9.8 8.2 
Pintail 14 4 28.6 10 71.4 tt 6.5 
Redhead 21 12 5 Tek 9 42.9 11.9 T9 
Shoveler 10 5 50.0 5 50.0 8.0 7.8 
G-w. teal 1 - -- 1 100.0 10..0 10.0 
Total 181 73 40.3 108 59.7 9.6 8.2 
* This table includes redhead eggs layed in other birds' nests. 
The average number of eggs per nest declined from 11.6 for all species in 
1949 to 9.6 for all species in 1950, This decline was brought about by a large number 
of birds which renested after failure during the inclement weather in the early spring. 
The second clutch of eggs layed was smaller than the first. The number of eggs which 
hatched in the nests remained the same as the year before so the initial brood. sizes 
should have remained the same as last year. 
Conclusions 
The aerial surveys had no previous data with which to make comparison but 
the counts on State refuges showed a marked decline in the breeding population for these 
areas. This decline was also noted in the reduced number of broods and young ducks on 
the areas throughout the summer. Reports from other areas in the State indicate there 
was a decline but not so marked as on the State areas. 
