LS 
131 
Species Composition on the Study Area 
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The greatest change in species composition is noted in the blue-winged teal. 
This species rose from 7 percent of the population in 1952 to 26 percent in 1953, and 
the number of broods found show that this is an increase in breeding population and 
is not caused by early migrants. The black duck still remains the mainstay of the 
population with 53 percent of the total, a drop of 7 percent from 1952. Wood ducks 
decreased from.14 percent to 9 percent and ringnecks decreased from 9 percent to 
5 percent, The other species showed no significant changes in their relative positions 
in the breeding population, 
Table III. - Species Trends since 1945 
Percent Increase or Decrease from 1945 
Species 1946 «1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 


Black Ducks - 49 - 9 ~ 24 + 84 +111 + 58 +128 + 20 
B-w. Teal - 88 - 87 - 70 a Hi - 44 89 - 58 oo is 
Wood Duck - 80 - 68 + 16 + 82 + 23 - 25 + 7 - 61 
Goldeneye - 63 +189 + 85 - 41 - 5 + 81 +140 + 15 
Ringneck + 3 - 49 -18 +411 + 11 - 21 ~ a - 73 
G-w. Teal - 14 - 78 - 74 + 33 + 23 + 29 - 37 - 83 
Total - 54 - 42 ~- 26 + 43 + 37 + 8 + 34 - 20 
Black ducks and goldeneyes are still above the 1945 level, but all other species 
are below. The total population is smaller this year than in any year since 1948. Again 
this is probably the result of water conditions, and may have no bearing on the fall 
hunting when the migration is under way. If the fall rains bring the river up to its 
normal level the supply of wildrice and other choice foods should ensure a good crop of 
migrants for the hunters, but those who are depending on the local ducks at the begin- 
ning of the season may be disappointed. 
Conclusion 
The 1953 breeding season in the St. John estuary was characterized by a very 
wet month of May followed by very dry and hot months of June and July. The river fell 
rapidly, and with the exception of one rise in late July which may have flooded some 
ringneck nests, there should have been negligible food losses. The river was so low 
by mid-August that most of the sloughs were dry, and the census shows a big decrease 
in the numbers of ducks using the area. 
The only species to show a significant increase was the blue-winged teal, which 
bred in greater numbers in the estuary this year than in any of the previous nine years. 
The other breeding species showed large decreases. 
The prospects for the hunting season will depend entirely upon the water levels. 
If the rains are late and the sloughs remain dry well into the fall, the area available 
to ducks in the estuary will be considerably reduced and the early season shooting can 
be expected to be below average. If the dry period ends before the shooting season, 
normal conditions may be expected with migrants, but local birds will be in short 
supply. 
