29 
Table VI. - Population and Production Comparisons, 1952-1953 
0 aa a A a 
Population Per Sq. Mile Percent Broods Per Sq. Mile Percent 
1952 1953 Change 1952 1953 Change 
Stratum A 22.77 23.79 + 4,5 5.11 4.47 -12.5 
Stratum B 14,19 16.42 415.7 2,55 3.30 +29.4 
Stratum C 13,35 15,37 +15.2 4,00 2.85 -28.7 
Province 16.94 18,68 +10,4 4.03 3.88 - 3.7 
oS a ee ee a ee hs eS 
Summary 
The 1953 waterfowl breeding population index was about 10 percent above that of 
the exceptional year of 1952. Poor water conditions in early spring, plus excessive 
rainfall and cool weather reduced the production of this population somewhat ani 
resulted in an over-all decrease of 3.7 percent in the production of broods by comparison 
with the 1952 high. However, a sizeable reduction in average brood size from 6.81 to 
5.51 ducklings per brood reduced the total production of young birds by 24.6 percent. 
Banding 
During July and August of 1953, it was possible to place a full-time banding crew 
into the field in Alberta. Their primary objective was to band juvenile waterfowl of all 
species and adults as well as juveniles of the less frequently banded species. It was 
originally planned to distribute the bandings equally throughout both the prairies and 
parklands. Heavy rains in July and August sharply curtailed travel possibilities in the 
parklands and reduced the percentage of bandings in that stratum somewhat. However, 
over 250 juveniles were banded by Messrs, Webster and Smith on the Vermilion study 
area and these are added to the bandings of the regular banding crew to give a total 
provincial figure. 
Table VII. - Summary of Waterfowl Bandings in Alberta - 1953 
Adults Juveniles 

Species Male Female Unsexed Male Female Unsexed Total 
Mallard 2 13 - 178 134 - 327 
Pintail 6 7 = | 72 72 - . 157 
B-w. teal 61 34 - 317 271 12 695 
G-w, teal 20 7 - 4 4 - 35 
Gadwall - - - 25 30 - 55 
Baldpate 19 9 ~ ee 163 - 414 
Shoveler - 2 - 89 86 - 177 
Redhead - 1 - 4 2 6 13 
Canvasback - - - 8 4 l 13 
Scaup - l - 51 40 2 94 
Ringneck 1 - - 1 1 8 11 
Coot - - 1 - - 48 49 
Horned Grebe - - - ~ - 2 2 
ared Grebe = - _ - - 3 3 
Total 109 74 1 971 807 83 2,045 
