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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN THE PROVINVE OF QUEBELW, 1953 
Louis Lemieux 
The breeding ground survey was conducted for the fifth consecutive year in 
the Province of Quebec in 1953, and the brood survey, initiated in 1951, was 
repeated in 1952 and 1953. 
The breeding ground survey was carried out by Messrs. R. D. Harris and 
Louis Lemieux, both of the Canadian Wildlife Service, and Clement Delisle, of the 
Quebec Department of Game and Fisheries.. The following areas were surveyed: 
Lochaber Bay and Carillon Island and Bay, on the Ottawa River; the west end of 
Lake St. Peter; the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, from Montmagny to 
Matane. The survey was made from May 6 to May 11, 
The brood survey was made by Messrs Louis Lemieux, Canadian Wildlife 
Service, and Gaston Moisan, Quebec Department of Game and Fisheries, The 
areas studied were the west end of Lake St. Peter, and the south shore of the 
St. Lawrence River from Montmagny to Matane. The brood survey was conducted 
from July 4 to July 8. 
All areas surveyed have been described in past reports. 
Climatic Conditions 
Spring was normal in southern Quebec, and set in on approximately the same 
dates as in 1952. Water level was high at the time the breeding ground survey was 
"made, and normal at the time the brood survey was conducted. Migration dates were 
normal in 1953. Conditions appeared favourable for nesting. 
Survey Methods 
The areas studied were covered by automobile, outboard motorboat and on 
foot. 
Data 

The data collected appear in table form at the end of this report. The results 
of the breeding ground survey and of the brood survey are discussed separately. 
Breeding Ground Survey 
It has been mentioned in past reports that the results of the breeding ground 
survey in Quebec are not truly significant because most of the waterfowl observed 
are migrants on their way to nesting grounds. Exception is made for the south 
‘ shore of the St. Lawrence River, where eiders nest in-abundance.. No area has 
been found yet in this Province where waterfowl other than eiders concentrate to 
nest. 
The results of this year's survey show, however, a general increase in 
population for most species of waterfowl. Approximately 95 percent of the waterfowl 
seen when the survey was made were paired. 
