64 

Table XI. - Summary of Waterfowl Banded -- Redvers Study Area 
June 27 to August 6 


Adult Local Adult Local 
Species Male Male Female Female Total 
Mallard 0 109 I 86 196 
Pintail 0 4 0 9 13 
Baldpate 0 11 1 13 . 25 
Blue-winged teal 1 25 1 24 51 
Shoveler 0 4 0 7 a | 
Redhead 0 3 0 0 3 
Canvasback 0 3 0 4 7 
Total l 159 3 143 306 
Summary 
1, Lack of fall rain in 1952 and almost complete absence of snow during the 
ensuing winter caused a lowering of pothole levels in the southeastern end of the 
aspen-parklands. However, the total number of water areas on the Redvers Study 
Area was the same as in 1952. A severe snowstorm on May 10 and 11 followed by 
several days of cold weather retarded renesting of mallards to some extent and 
slowed up the northward migration of the late arrivals but seemed to have no Serious 
effect on nesting success of the mallards, pintails and canvasback. Most of May, 
June and the first of July was cold, wet and miserable with rain falling almost daily. 
This cold, wet weather did not appear to have an adverse effect upon nesting or 
broods. 
2. The breeding pair population of 118 pairs per square mile was almost 
exactly the same as in 1952 indicating that perhaps the area reached maximum 
carrying capacity in 1952 (2.98 pairs per acre of water}. Sixty-one water areas 
per square mile averaged 0.66 acres each. 
3. Nest data indicated 46.1 percent success for all nests found and 50.1 for 
active nests only. This compares with 45.8 percent for all nests and 56.9 percent 
for active nests in 1952. 
4. The proportion of successful females was 42.8 percent in 1953 as compared 
to 42.4 percent in 1952. 
5, Taking into consideration both nesting, and percent of females with broods, 
a figure of 45 percent should be a conservative estimate of production which is 
exactly the same as in 1952, This means that the estimated 118 females per. square 
mile produced 53 broods of an average Class III size of 6.66 or 353 ducklings per 
square mile. These added to the original 236 adults, represents an increase of from 
236 to 589 ducks which is 2.5 times the original population or an increase of 150 
percent, and indicates a very satisfactory breeding season. 
