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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY OF REDVERS AREA, SASKATCHEWAN 
Jerome H. Stoudt 
Raymond J. Buller 
The Redvers study area was established in 1952 in the aspen parklands habitat 
type of southeastern Saskatchewan with the following objectives in mind: 
1. Determine accuracy with which the contribution of ducks from 
specific study areas to the fall flight can be forecast on June 15 and 
August 1, 
2. To obtain information on habitat requirements of breeding ducks 
and the effect of water, climatic conditions, predation, and habitat 
on the production and survival of young. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
The preceding fall and winter of 1952-53 was exceptionally dry with a decided 
lack of both rain and snow. Roads were open all winter. Although the winter was 
very mild, the spring break-up was continually being frustrated by cold spells so 
that nesting was delayed and the mallards and pintails did not begin nesting until the 
last week in April. Temperatures rose rapidly on May 4 and 5 and during this period 
a large segment of the mallard population were either laying or incubating egg clutches. 
This increased tempo in nesting was apparent in the field at the time and borne out 
later by hatching data. 
During the nesting and brooding season the weather was wet, cold and miserable 
for the most part. This unseasonable weather extended from May 9 through the first 
part of July. During the last half of July and the first part of August the weather 
cleared and abundant rainfall ceased. We have always heard of the dire effects of wet, 
cold weather on newly hatched ducklings but such ill effects were not noted during the 
1953 brooding season. 7 
Water levels on May 1, 1953 were from 6 to 8 inches lower than in May 1952 
due to a lack of precipitation during the preceding fall and winter, however, abundant 
precipitation in June of 1953 soon brought the water above 1952 levels. 
An average of 15 water gauges set out on May 1 showed the following fluctuations 
thereafter: . 
Fluctuation in Inches 
May 11 May 21 May 3l June 10 June 20 June 30 July 10 July 20 July 30 
I 
ee I 
- 0,23 -1.22 -0.27 + 3.10 + 2.13 + 3.73 + 2,40 - 0.57 - 3.43 
Certain water areas in the vicinity of Redvers, Saskatchewan actually raised to 
a point from 8 to 9 inches above May 1 levels during late June which brought them up 
to and above May 1952 levels. Water levels during both June and July were considerably 
ably above those in 1952 and all forms of aquatic and upland vegetative cover was 
exceedingly tall and rank, much more so than in 1952. 
