100 

Table I. - Breeding Population - Caron Potholes 
Species 1950 1951 1952 1953 
Blue-winged teal 75 90 143 154 
Pintail 35 57 79 71 
Shoveler 42 52 34 39 
Mallard 31 34 111 154 
Gadwall 18 33 40 53 
Baldpate 28 24 26 39 
Redhead 2 10 23 24 
Lesser scaup 7 8 9 22 
Green-winged teal 1 5 14 9 
Canvasback - 4 . ¥S 16 
Ruddy duck L 4 6 6 
Unidentified - - - 4 
Total Pairs 240 321 490 591 
Per Square Mile 56.3 45,5 115.3 139.0 
Table I compares breeding populations from 1950 to 1953. The 1953 breeding 
population is the highest of which we have record for this area, While all species 
except the shoveler, (the pintail showed a slight decrease 1952 to 1953), have 
increased greatly since 1950, the mallard has been most spectacular, increasing 
five fold to become, with the blue-winged teal, the most abundant breeding species 
in the area. Canvasbacks and redheads have also shown good increases since 1950 
and particularly in the last two years. This is not normally a diving duck area and 
the increase in these species probably results from the continued high waters which 
have improved nesting cover for them, although it probably also reflects the general 
increase in these species observed across the prairies. 
Table II. - Brood Production - Caron Potholes 
Species 1950 1951 1952 1953 
Blue-winged teal 12 39 74 108 
Pintail 5 28 35 37 
Shoveler ll 19 13 32 
Mallard 13 10 58 53 
Gadwall 8 ll 12 14 
Baldpate 13 12 17 19 
Redhead 2 2 5 7 
Lesser scaup 3 7 14 24 
Green-winged teal 1 2 7 - 
Canvasback - - 1 5 3 
Ruddy duck 1 4 - 3 
Unidentified 21 15% 31% 12* 
Total 90 150 269 312 
Per Square Mile AS | 35.3 63.3 73.4 
*Rafted broods on larger waters without females. Total count taken and 
converted into broods by dividing by six. 
