
200. 
Due to limitations of space.the following brief description of methods 
employed must suffice. Water areas were originally cruised between May 11 and 
20, the second coverage was made between June 23 and July 4, and the third and final 
coverage between July 5 and 21. With the exception of re-runs of some portions of . 
ground transects, practically all field work was conducted between the hours of 4:00 
a,m. and 10:00 a.m. on the second and third coverages to enhance the probability of 
seeing broods. 
Practically speaking, all census work conducted during this waterfowl 
production survey was an attempted 100 percent coverage, But it is evident that an 
element of error of unknown proportions may oftentimes be present; and it is improbable 
that all birds are ever seen by any method in view of the fact that many waterfowl tend 
to adopt skulking behavior during the nesting and brooding season. Such error would 
most probably be small for territorial and summering waterfowl, but would unquestion- 
ably be considerable for nesting and brooding females and their progeny, particularly 
during the early part of the broods' existence. 
Results, Discussion, and Conclusions 
The following data on broods was obtained: 
Table 3. -- Brood Sizes and Ages | 
(Based on entire or complete brood counts) 



Ducks 
Age Class Number of broods Total Young Av. Brood Size 
1 (Downy young) ll 70 6,4 
11 (Intermediate) 22 135 6.1 
111(Flappers) 26 155 6.0 
Totals 59 360 6.1 
Coots 
1 9 36 4.0 
ll 18 67 3.7 
111 4 9 2.3 
Totals 31 112 3.3 
Note: Includes brood counts from other areas made by Wisconsin 
Fur Research Project. 
Table 4. -- Chronology of Brood Observations 
Duck Broods Observed 
Period Man Days Class l Class 11 Class 111 Total 
May 11 - 20 13 0 0 0 0. 
June 15 - 29 15 l 2 0 . 3 
July 3 - 22 23 13 31 31 i 75 
Totals 51 14 33 31 78 
Since no extended discussion of phenology nor tables summarizing data on 
water conditions, territorial behavior, and population densities can be included in 
this brief report the reader is referred to the Wisconsin Pittman-Robertson Quarterly 
Progress Report of October 1, 1950, for additional information. Conclusions reached 
on the basis of the 1950 waterfowl production survey are as follows: 
