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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, 1953 
George M. Stirrett 
Introduction 
A survey of waterfowl breeding grounds in southern Ontario was carried out 
during the summer of 1953 to measure the current status of waterfowl using the area 
and to secure information on yearly population trends and breeding success, 
Three independent surveys were made. One by the author covered the general 
area of southern Ontario; one by H. G. Lumsden, Fish and Wildlife Division, Ontario 
Department of Lands and Forests, was confined to the Tweed District (formerly 
officially known as the Quinte District) and one by N. D. Patrick, of the same organi- 
zation, was in the Rideau District. Messrs. Lumsden and Patrick have kindly 
furnished the author with a copy of their respective reports and their data. This 
material and my own have been used in making the present compilation. In addition, 
certain information has been secured from the reports of the Quarterly Survey on 
waterfowl conditions in Ontario, a service carried on jointly by the Canadian Wildlife 
Service and the Fish and Wildlife Division, Ontario Department of Lands and Forests. 
The area to which the present report refers is that part of Ontario lying south 
of a line drawn from Sault Ste. Marie in the west to Sudbury, Temagami, Arnprior, 
and Cornwall in the east. This is the Same area reported upon during the past two 
years. The Tweed District hes within this area in a south central position and the 
Rideau District constitutes the extreme southeastern section of this area, 
The author examined 40 separate areas one or more times between May 1 and 
July 20. Mr. Patrick examined two areas during the latter part of May and Mr. 
Iumsden examined 21] separate areas in May and againin July. In all, 63 separate 
stations were examined, 
The spot method of sampling was employed by each observer. Mr. Patrick and 
the author made their observations by canoe, car or on foot, or a combination of these 
methods of transportation, and Mr. Lumsden carried out both a ground and aerial 
survey in his district. The techniques employed were similar to those used in previous 
years, Neither spot ground surveying nor aerial surveying is entirely satisfactory 
under southern Ontario conditions but must be used until a more adequate and reliable 
survey method is developed. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Weather and water conditions during the months of May, June and to July 20 
were ideal throughout the area under study. No drought or excessive water conditions 
were experienced in any part of the area, Precipitation was evenly distributed, All 
inland marshes, ponds and lakes were well supplied with water. Nesting and brood 
raising conditions appeared to be ideal. 
Results of Surveys 
(a) Breeding Waterfowl Populations: - On the 63 habitats examined by the three 
observers a total of 1,222 waterfowl of all kinds were found, This is a slight decrease 
from 1952 when 1, 358 were found, and a slight increase from the 1, 141 total for 1951. 
