25 
Table I, - Water Areas on Aerial Transects, May and July, 1953 
er aga 

Stratum A Stratum B Stratum C Province 
May July May July May July May July 
Total Ponds Seen 4,090 4,523 3,771 2,537 703 736 8,564 7,796 
Ponds per Sq. Mi. 16.73 18.47 20,65 14.29 8.91 33 16.35 15,55 
Estimated Total - 
Ponds 369,532 407,965 538,965 372,969 143,558 150,035 1,051,305 999, 865 
Percent Change 
May to July + 10.4 - 30.9 + 4,7 - 4,8 
Breeding Population Trends - Aerial Data 
For the third consecutive year a very appreciable increase in the breeding zopulation 
of waterfowl has been recorded on our aerial transects in Alberta. The record population 
of 1952 was surpassed by slightly more than 10 percent. 
In Table II below, a comparison of the waterfowl breeding populations of 1952 and 
1953 has been made. The data contained therein is figured on the basis of total ducks 
actually observed, with populations by stratum and province derived as ducks per square 
mile. 
In Table [I I a waterfowl population index is established on the basis of the indicated 
population present. This data is derived from aerial observations which segregate the 
individual species into pairs, lone males and females, assuming each lone male or female 
to be mated. Thus these figures which represent pairs per square mile more closely 
approximates the true populations present than does Table II], The index figure thus 
established is still an index figure and should be treated as such, even though a more 
accurate one than that established in Table II. 
Table II. - Aerial Waterfowl Population Data, 1951 to 1953 (Ducks Per Square Mile) 
Total Area Sample Total Ducks Ducks Per Population Percent 
Sq. Miles Sq. Mi. Seen Sq. Mi. Index ‘Change 
Stratum A 
1951 22,088 516.0 12,115 23.47 518,405 
1952 22,088 481.4 13, 316 27.45 606, 316 + 16.9 
1953 22,088 489.7 15, 332 31.31 691,575 + 14.1 
Stratum B 
1951 26,100 236.6 3, 706 15.66 408, 726 
1952 26,100 348.6 6,124 17.56 458, 316 + 12.1 
1953 26,100 365.2 7,536 20.63 538,443 + 17.5 
Stratum -G 
1951 16,112 228.2 2,382 10.43 168, 048 
1952 16,112 165.2 2,714 16.43 264, 720 + 57.5 
1953 16,112 157.7 3,056 19.37 312,089 + 17.9 
Province 
1951 64, 300 980.8 18,203 17.03 1,995,179 
1952 64, 300 995.2 22, 154 20.67 1,329, 352 + 21.4 
1953 64, 300 1012.6 29,924 23.98 1,542,107 + 15.1 
