Table V. - Species Composition, Aerial Surveys, Alaska, 1952-1953 (continued) 
a 
Fort Yukon Flats Percentin 1952 Percent in 1953 _ 
Percent Identified ll 47 
Pintail 18 23 
Scaup 19 64 
Baldpate 9 3 
Mallard , = 
Other ‘ 54 2 
Minto Lakes 
Percent Identified 50 74 
Pintail 32 6 
Scaup 53 62 
Baldpate 3 8 
Mallard 2 4 
Shoveler - 3 
Other 10 3 
Significance of the Data 
Aerial Surveys - Breeding Pairs 
Since the methods used in 1953 differ from previous years the data are not 
directly cornparable but where data can be segregated, no significant change in 
numbers of breeding birds can be detected except in the Minto Lakes area where 
there was a reduction in oreeding pairs. 
Size of Clutches and Broods 
The size of brant and cackling geese clutches in 1953 was significantly higher 
than in 1951, however, the size of brant broods show a decrease and the cackling 
goose broods show an increase. Brood counts on these species are not reliable 
because of mixing of broods and it is believed that the increase in size of clutches 
reflects the good production observed on the Yukon Delta ground surveys. 
The size of Canada soose broods as well as number of geese observed on the 
Copper River reflects a slight reduction in production for this species. 
Duck clutches were as large or larger on the Minto, Copper River, and Fort 
Yukon areas in 1953 as in previous years of record. 
Changes in composition by species is reflected in aerial surveys, however, 
subsequent ground surveys have shown considerable variation in composition counts, 
air vs. ground counts, and accordingly no conclusions are drawn from the data 
available. 
Field work yielded significant information on waterfowl other than production. 
Adams collected further information on gull-waterfowl populations and predation. 
Dt. Kessel advanced work on identification of ducklings of Greater vs. Lesser Scaup. 
