223 
approaching the flying stage) was 5.6 young per brood. This was nearly equal to the 
record high of 1949 (5.7) and was considerably above the long-term average in Maine 
Summary and Conclusions 
1. The status of breeding waterfowl in Mai 
aine at the start of the 1950 nesti 
season was better than in 1949; this makes the fourth consecutive year of such tus < 
increase. Only the American golden-eye was noted in fewer numbers 
2. Climatic conditions were ver i 
: y favorable d . 
brood period. uring both the nesting and the 
3. The retarded spring season resulted in rath : 
er late h : 
not appear to have any harmful effecta. atching, but this did 
4. Nesting success, as based on a sam 
ple study, was 74 : 
highest figure recorded in 14 years. Y percent the 
5. Brood success was higher than in an average year - : 
and 
as in the record year of 1949. ge y practically as high . 
Table 1, - Waterfowl Census Data -- Number of Breeding Pairs 
_ (Black Duck and Ring-necked Duck Only) . 

Black Duck Pairs Ring-neck Pairs 
Study Area 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 
St. John River, 
Van Buren 2 4 3 4 6 a _ _ Ad - 
Portage Lake, Portage 6 4. 3 6 4 14 20 «21 19 - 20 
Meduxnekeag Strait, 
Hodgdon 2 3 4 6 §@5 -- _ ts = a 
Musquash Strait, 
Gr. Lake Strait 4 4 5 7 10 3 5 6 6 9 
Pocamoonshine Area, 
Alexander 10 15 15 18 22 28 28 40 35 32 
St. Croix River, Baring 9 8 9 8 8 -- shen ahs a =a 
Moosehorn Refuge, Calais 16 27 31 24 22 8 9 8 19 17 
Pennamaquan River, 
Pembroke 2 2 2 3 4 10 13 20 24 27 
Mattanawcook Lake, 
’ Lincoln 2 3 3 5 6 10 7 Z 5 5 
Penobscot River, : 
Lincoln - Enfield 5 7 12 12 15 =e silo i Be. nee 
Pushaw Strait, 
Oroxo - Old Town 3 5 4 6 7 ayer aelas as _ a 
Davis-Holbrook Area, 
Eddington 2 3 5 5 6 2 2 2 3 5 
Corinna Stream, Corinna 3 3 6 9 10 4 6 4 12 12 
Goose River, Belfast - 
 Swanville — 10 6 12 15 12 8 7 12 16 13 
- -- 4 4 6 4 4 
Snake Pond, Brooksville -- w=  co- “ 
Totals - 96. 94 114. 128 #1137. . 91..101 121 143° 144 
