206 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN INDIANA - 1950 
Russell E. Mumford 
Essentially the same areas were surveyed this year as in 1949. A number of 
new study plots were established, however, and the number of river transects was 
increased from 5 to 13. Nine of these were censused the second time. Car transects 
on-ditches were discontinued because they were found to be impractical except in a few 
counties. Field work was conducted from April 17 to July 20, 1950. 
Further exploration was carried on in 15 northern Indiana counties, which 
make up the principal nesting range of all waterfowl in the State, except the wood duck. 
Some relatively good breeding areas were located which were unknown in 1949, and it 
is felt that future investigation must be conducted before an accurate appraisal of 
Indiana's nesting population can be obtained by a sampling technique. 
The investigator had the assistance of various persons during this period. 
Ellison Madden and Richard Kizer each worked one month and lent valuable aid on 
float trips and study area censusing. In addition, Purdue University personnel, 
conservation officers, and Pittman-Robertson employees aided the work periodically. 
Methods 
All river transects were run by canoe and outboard motor, the motor being 
used whenever possible. 
Study area plots in 12 northern Indiana counties were covered on foot at least 
twice during the summer. Since these were, for the most part, also censused in 1949, 
some trend information was obtained. 
Canada goose nesting on the Jasper-Pulaski State Game Preserve was checked 
during the last of April and the first week of May. Practically all of the large marsh on 
this area was waded from time to time in search of waterfowl nests or broods. 
Study areas were intensively covered by wading. A two-man crew circled 
the pothole and "beat out" any brushy area which might harbor a brood. 
Areas and transects run in 1949 and 1950 have been underlined on the map 
(Figure 1). 
Populations 
It was planned to begin river float trips on April 1, but heavy rains in late 
March kept rivers above flood stages throughout the first two weeks in April. From 
April 17 to May 18 transects were taken on 13 rivers over the State. In all, 167 miles 
of stream were censused. 
Many migrant species were encountered during this period, principally blue- 
winged teal, which apparently rely heavily on stream courses as migrational flight 
lines. The coot and 16 species of ducks were recorded during the above sampling 
(Table 1). A second coverage was made on 9 of the above rivers between May 23 and 
July 10. The adult waterfowl composition was quite different during this period. 
The average number of wood ducks per mile for the first coverage was 1.2, 
for all 13 transects. Most of the transects included in the first coverage were 
