26 
Table III. - Aerial Waterfowl Population Data, 1952-1953 
Indicated Population (Pairs Per Square Mile) 
Surface Area Sample Area Total Pairs Per Pop. Index Percent 





Sq. Miles Sq. Miles Pairs Sq. Mi. in Pairs Change 
Stratum A . 
1952 22,088 481.4 10, 962 22.77 502, 942 
1953 22,088 489.7 11,653 23.79 525,493 bt 6445 
Stratum B 
1952 26, 100 348.6 4,948 14.19 370, 407 
1953 26, 100 365.2 5,997 16.42 428,588 + 15,7 
Stratum C 
1952 16,112 165.2 2,205 13.35 215,079 
1953 16,112 157.7 2,424 13.37 247, 640 + 15.2 
Province 
1952 64, 300 980.8 18,115 16.94 1,088, 428 
1953 64, 300 1012.6 20,074 -18, 68 1,201,694 + 10,4 

Table IV. - Species Composition of Breeding Population - Aerial 


1952 1953 
Species Pairs Per Percent of ‘Pairs Per. Percent of 
Sq. Mile Tot. Pop. Sq. Mile Tot. Pop. 
Mallard 5.2 31.0 7.0 37.6 
Pintail 7.1 42.2 6.7 36,0 
B-w. teal 0.6 3.0 0.5 ay i 
G-w. teal * - 0.07 0.4 
Gadwall * - 0.1 0.5 
Baldpate 0.9 Bud 1,3 7,0 
Shoveler 0.8 4,8 os 6.5 
Redhead * - 0.3 1.6 
Canvasback % - 0.3 1.6 
Scaup 1,0 6.0 0.95 5.1 
Ruddy * - 0.1 oo 
Bufflehead) * - 0.08 0.4 
Goldeneye) * - - - 
Cinn. teal * - 0.01 0.1 
Misc. ducks 1,3 7.7 = - 
16.9 100.0 18.6 100.0 
* These species lumped together in 1952 as miscellaneous ducks, 
Success of the Season - Aerial Data 
The 1953 breeding season began with a population some 10 percent higher than 
the exceptional year of 1952, Water conditions, however, were not ideal at the start 
of the nesting season and though heavy precipitation occurred during the summer, its 
fall was so great on some occasions as to cause flooding and destruction of many early 
nests. This was true particularly in southern areas. 
