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Compared with last year, gadwall production was up 60 percent and the shoveler also 
increased. There was a sharp decline in numbers of young pintail and reductions were 
observed in redhead, ruddy, and canvasback. Heaviest production of all Species was 
not observed until after the middle of July, With precipitation above normal, all 
potholes in surrounding areas were filled and all species found such environment more 
adaptable for nesting than refuge habitat afforded. The desirable coves, inlets, and 
marshy impoundments were occupied as in previous seasons, but not so many broods 
were produced this year. Potholes and sloughs, however, provided nesting habitat in 
greater abundance and a general increase in young ducks produced was noted throughout 
this section of North Dakota, particularly on pothole areas in optimum condition, 
Lacreek, South Dakota Waterfowl nesting was about the same as in 1949, but 
the count of young showed an increase of 50 percent over the 1949 production, with a 
150 percent increase in coots. Cover conditions were good and the nesting season 
. extended from May 10 to early August with the hatches generally from two to three 
weeks later than usual. The heaviest nesting was by blue-winged teal, followed in 
order by gadwall, mallard, and pintail. 
Sand Lake, South Dakota Although the season was delayed from 3 to 4 weeks by 
inclement spring weather, waterfowl nesting was good and increased over 1949. July 
observations showed fewer broods than normal, but in August more were found than 
during previous comparable periods. Canada goose numbers were the same as young 
raised in 1949.. Duck production increased 45 percent and coots 25 percent over 1949 
numbers, 
Waubay, South Dakota Due to the late, cold spring, early nesting of mallard 
and pintail was mostly unsuccessful. Later nesting was successful. The over-all 
decrease in duck production was 56 percent of the 1949 figures. Coots decreased 66 
percent, but Canada goose production was up 68 percent. 
Mississippi Flyway 
Union Slough, Iowa There was a 71 percent increase in duck production over 
1949 numbers. Nesting was 2 weeks late with the first broods observed in July. Most 
successful nesting occurred on grazing lands adjacent to pool areas. Mallards and 
blue -winged teal continued to be the heaviest nesters,. Although 117 pintail in 20 broods 
were produced in 1949, there were no nests this season. Also, there were no baldpates 
nesting this year, after 15 young being produced in 1949. , 
Seney, Michigan A decrease of 16 percent in Canada goose production over the 
1949 figure was attributed to low brood survival rather than to a decline in breeding 
population. A decrease of 36 percent in duck production, however, was attributed to 
smaller breeding populations of ringneck, blue-winged teal, and mergansers than were 
in evidence during preceding seasons. 
Mud Lake, Minnesota Flood conditions were believed to have caused ducks to 
seek higher ground outside the refuge during the normal nesting season, although farmers 
reported observing fewer nests than in normal years. As the season progressed with 
receding flood waters, however, increasing numbers of broods were observed and counts 
on August 10 revealed that duck production exceeded that for 1949 by 2.5 percent and coots 
were increased 17.5 percent despite the fact that high water and adverse climatic conditions 
had retarded the normal nesting period as much as 3 to 4 weeks. Blue-winged teal with 
15,000 young showed the greatest increase. Mallards produced 14,000 young. For the 
first time in recent years green-winged teals were present in limited numbers and 20 
young were produced. There was an 80 percent decrease in baldpates.and 40 percent in 
gadwall production, 
