
156 
increase in ducks in North Dakota was the blue-winged teal. This duck will not 
contribute much to the shootable surplus of ducks in the United States and practically 
none will be left in North Dakota by opening day. 
Success of the Nesting Season 
Although the majority of nesting of both waterfowl and upland game was 
delayed from three to four weeks due to the late spring, some pintails got started 
during mid-April. While the main hatch of pintails did not occur until the latter part 
of June there were some broods observed on July 5 which were flying. Nests of 
pintails which were begun in mid-April were exposed to at least three severe snow- 
storms which blanketed all existing cover with several inches of wet snow and several 
nights of sub-freezing temperatures. 
Most of the ducks which nested in the temporary puddles in hay meadows and 
stubble fields lost their first nests and moved to the hills area for re-nesting. The 
ground remained too wet to plow for a prolonged period and it seemed that between 
late plowing and more summer fallowing than usual, plus an abnormally high skunk 
and badger population, production would be way off. However, when the peak of the 
hatch did occur (about two or three weeks late) from August 1 to 10 there were about 
as many or more broods than in 1949, 
Table 4 includes nest success data from both North Dakota and South Dakota. 
Paucity of data, plus the fact that nest studies cannot be randomized, in this area at 
least, make the results very questionable. . 


Table 4, -- Nesting Data - North and South Dakota --- 1950 
Total Nests Destroyed Average No. 
Nests Followed or Percent of Eggs 
Species Found Through Deserted Unsuccessful Full Clutches Only 
Mallard 20 18 16 89 9.00 
Baldpate 2 2 ] 50 8.00 
Pintail 8 8 5 62 6.83 
Blue-winged teal 18 17 11 65 10, 67 
Shoveler 2 Z 2 100 11.00 
Canvasback 8 7 | 5 71 9.00 
Redhead 5 4 4 100 11.00 
All Species 63 58 44 76 
The fate of the 44 unsuccessful nests was: 17 destroyed by skunk; 14 
deserted; 4 destroyed by crows; 1 by badger; 1 by mowing; 6 by undetermined 
predators; and 1 was a dump nest, 
The 25 percent success ratio is probably much lower than actual nesting 
success due to the following reasons: 
1. Human disturbance which may cause some desertion after a nest is found. 
2. Nest hunting was not done in growing grain where nesting cover was at 
its best due to the large uninterrupted area of cover afforded. 
3. Nests found may also be the easiest for the predators to find. 
Brood Survival 
A better index to nesting success is the number of broods produced in 
comparison to nesting pairs found on transects. There are two methods which can 
