

153 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN THE DAKOTAS - 1950 
Jerome H,. Stoudt 
Introduction 
For the third consecutive year a waterfowl breeding ground survey was 
conducted in the Dakotas. Transects were run on the ground for the following purposes: 
1. To determine population trends of breeding pairs of waterfowl. 
2. To determine trends in brood production. 
3. To establish permanent ground transects for future use for 
either breeding pairs, broods, or both. 
With the latter idea in mind several new transects were laid out which added 
to the over-all coverage but cut down on dead-heading between transects (see map). 
Personnel assisting in the 1950 surveys included: - Harry Jensen and 
Everett Sutton of the Branch of Game Management; Refuge Manager Fred Staunton; 
Biological Aid H. W. Egert. Brood data were also contributed by P-R Biologist 
Leo Kirsch. These were collected incidental to pheasant census work. 
Area Covered 
The accompanying map shows the ground transects in 1950 which will be used 
in the future for both breeding pair counts and to restricted degree for brood counts. 
The spring of 1950 was one of the most unusual in history with the migration of most 
species delayed for two or three weeks and more water present in many areas than had 
been the case for the past 50 years. This caused much flooding of roads, many of which 
were still under water on September 1. Some transects which were run in 1949 could 
not be run at all and only portions of others. This was only true in North Dakota, 
however, with all 1949 transects in South Dakota being censused again in 1950. All 
transects were run about 12 days later in 1950 than in 1949 and it would appear that 
they could have been postponed another week, 
The 1950 transects include a good sample of the Waubay Hills and Leola Hills 
in South Dakota and extend from the latter northwesterly through the Coteau Hills of 
North Dakota to Saskatchewan. Enough flat or gently rolling agricultural land is 
included between and adjacent to the Hills areas to give a fair sample of waterfowl 
popylations in this type of habitat. . 
Transects are for the most part in better than average waterfowl habitat and 
do not yield a population figure per square mile which can be applied to the entire area 
of the Dakotas. Transects were selected to give a maximum number of observations 
with a minimum amount of coverage, always keeping in mind the main objectives of 
population trends and determination of species composition. For accuracy in both, 
compare the trends and species composition with State data elsewhere in this report 
and note similarity. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
mg A a ED 
As previously stated, the spring season of 1950 was extremely abnormal. 
Blizzards occurred as late as May 5 in South Dakota and even later in North Dakota. 
The last two snowstorms in North Dakota brought approximately 17 inches of 
precipitation and caused severe flooding of roads in the land-locked potholes and 
sloughs of the hills region in central North Dakota. 
