132 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN NEWFOUNDLAND 
Leslie M. Tuck 
Introduction 
The objective of this survey was to examine a few small areas of waterfowl 
habitat in the island of Newfoundland in order to determine the breeding status of 
the species found there. 
A total of 14 square miles was examined on foot during the period from May 9 
to June 25. Eight square miles of this total area was in the Codroy Valley on the 
west coast of the island where the only sizeable stands of Typha latifolia and Ruppia 
martima are known, The most common bdreeding waterfowl in this locality was __ 
Mergus serrator which fed extensively in the estuaries. Small proups of unattached 
black ducks indicated the importance of this locality to migrating waterfowl. Other 
areas examined were representative samples of the island which had also been 
examined on foot during 1952. 
Methods 
At Swift Current and on the Southern Shore a canoe was used to some extent. 
Other areas were covered by foot. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Newfoundland had a very mild winter and black ducks, although not wintering 
jin any large numbers, were generally distributed and recorded from as far north as 
Cartwright, Labrador. Spring was phenologically normal except that black ducks 
may have nested rather early since broods were encountered from the middle of 
May on, and at least one brood had hatched by May 2. Because of the physical 
features of the island, rainfall and run-off remain fairly constant and there was no 
departure from the norm this year. 
Results of Survey 
The 14 square miles surveyed during the specified period yielded 181 waterfowl, 
assumed to be breeding. These are listed in Table II. Birds assumed to be late 
migrants or non-breeders are listed in Table I. 
Evaluation of Data 

Owing to the small size of the study areas, these data are not necessarily 
representative of the island. Several of these areas are chosen for convenience and 
may be described as pockets of concentration and if the size of the area were doubled 
the total numbers of waterfowl observed would not be appreciably changed. Aerial 
coverage of large areas, such as was done last year, iS more representative. 
Unfortunately, this year an aircraft could not be obtained. The general impression of 
observers and one retained by the writer from passing through numerous areas in 
which a count was not specifically taken was that there had been a marked increase in 
breeding black ducks this year. Teal and ring-necked ducks also indicated a more 
favourable breeding distribution. 
