82 
Trends 
The breeding duck density and species composition changed little from the 
1952 season (see Table I1). Coots, however, doubled in density. This increase in 
coots probably is the result of improvement in nesting habitat in this area over the 
semi-drought conditions of 1952 rather than a real increase in the coot breeding 
population as a whole. 
Table II. - Trends in the Breeding Population, Newdale-Erickson District, Manitoba 
(50.4 Square Miles of Transects) 
1952 1953 
May 6 - 29 May 15 - 28 
Percent Corrected Percent Corrected 
Species Males Population * Percent Males Population* Percent 
Mallard 78 1,614 32 75 1,596 32 
Gadwall 53 142 3 54 70 1 
Baldpate 56 286 6 55 288 6 
Pintail 79 436 9 72 486 10 
Green-winged teal 73 230 5 57 102 2 
Blue-winged teal 61 824 16 55 896 18 
Shoveler 64 134 3 54 170 3 
Redhead 56 162 3 57 224 5 
Canvasback 66 332 7 57 276 6 
Lesser scaup 58 692 14 59 704 14 
Ruddy duck 59 66 1 65 128 3 
Others 54 102 rd 58 92 2 
5,020 5,032 
Ducks Per Square Mile 99.6 99.8 
Trend -- + 0.2% 
Coots Per Square Mile 4.7 9.6 
Trend -- +104 % 
* - Corrected population equals number of drakes x 2. 
Production 
Broods 
Brood production on 120 study potholes did not change appreciably from 1952 
(see Table III). Although a slight downward trend is indicated by these figures, 
late-hatched ruddy and scaup broods did not contribute as they should to the 1953 total, 
The lateness of the 1953 season is reflected in the high percentage of broods in age 
Class I. 
A road-count survey of 12 transects during the period, July 12-23, showed a 
19 percent decrease in number of broods compared to 1952 and gave the following 
age class composition: Class I - 64 percent; Class II - 17 percent; and Class III - 
19 percent. 
