WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND STUDIES ON THE ELKHORN AREA 
IN SOUTHWESTERN MANITOBA, 1953 
J. Howard’ 4 G. Pospichal “a and D, Reid? 
Introduction 
At the beginning of the 1953 waterfowl breeding season, a new study transect 
was established in southwestern Manitoba. This area, which is 40 miles long, lies 
on a north-south road that passes through the town of Elkhorn. It comprises all the 
water areas within a 1/8-mile strip on the west side of the road. The northernmost 
10 mile segment of the transect is excellent waterfowl habitat with many large, 
semi-permanent potholes characterized by heavy cattail borders. The next two 
10 mile segments have good pothole types but fewer semi-permanent ponds with 
much less cattail growth and more wooded borders. The southern 10 miles is the 
least desirable waterfowl habitat on the transect. The majority of the water areas 
on this segment are shallow "C" types that have wooded or sedge peripheries. 
Approximately one-half of these water areas were dry by the time studies were 
completed in the beginning of August. 
The Elkhorn district, in general, is a farming area with a good portion of the 
land still unbroken. This type consists of unused wood lots or pasture that is 
sparsely covered with quaking aspen, willow, snowberry, and silver willow. No 
oak or native conifers are present but some box elder is found along the creek 
bottoms. The main agricultural crops in this area are wheat, oats, barley, rye, 
flax, and some corn. 
This study area was established principally to make comparisons between 
ground and aerial observations of breeding populations and waterfowl production. 
The 40-mile transect was censused from the air at approximately the same time as 
the ground beat-outs were in progress. The area also offered the opportunity to 
observe nesting success with the effects of weather and predation. Other things 
noted on the transect were the relationship of breeding pairs and broods to the 
pothole type and permanency class. 
. Weather, Water, and Farming Conditions 
Weather conditions in this area retarded farming and were not too favorable 
for the early waterfowl nesting attempts. During the early part of May, it was hot 
and dry but changed abruptly on May 10 when a heavy snowstorm with freezing 
temperatures hit the area. Temperatures for the remainder of the month continued 
low and precipitation was negligible. By the end of the month it appeared as though 
the district was going to have a very dry summer. Early in June, heavy rains fell 
and when water gauges were read on June 8, it was found that most of the potholes 
; Howard (Manitoba Game Branch) spent the entire survey period on this project. 
Pospichal (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) joined the project June 1, replacing 
Reid. 
3 Reid (Canadian Wildlife Service) worked with Howard during May. 
