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Table V. - Total Waterfowl Production, Yampa River Valley, Colorado - 1952-1953 
No. Production 
Breeding Pairs No. Broods No. Young Per Sq. Mi. 
Species 1952 1953 1952 1953 1952 1953 1952 1953 
a a A a sg ere 
Canada Geese 120 130 40 90 140 540 . 64 2.45 
Mallard 1,050 1,060 930 760 6,110 4,750 27.77 21.59 
Cinn. & B-w. teal 270 140 170 60 870 340 3.95 1,55 
G-w. teal 240 120 140 30 770 140 3.50 .64 
Amer. merganser 120 100 80 110 670 1,030 3,05 4.68 - 
Pintail 40 20 20 20 110 100 .50 45 
Gadwall 40 40 - 30 - 170 ~ 477 
Unidentified - - 20 20 140 160 64 73 
pt pi ni a eg dS 
Total 
Geese 120 130 40 90 140 540 . 64 2.45 
Ducks 1,790 1,500 1, 360 1,030 8, 670 6,690 39.41 30.41 
Brown's Park 
Brown's Park is primarily a heavily grazed, sagebrush-covered, mountain park, 
bisected by the Green River. It is located in extreme northwest Colorado, and both 
the park and river extend into the adjoining State of Utah. Waterfowl habitat, in Colorado 
is limited to the floodplain area along a 15-mile stretch of the river. Since this bottom- 
land averages about 1 mile in width, available waterfowl nesting ground consists of 
approximately 15 square miles. Cattail and bulrush marsh, flooded hay meadows, and 
willow -bordered streams characterize the waterfowl habitat found in this region. 
Water levels in Brown's Park were lower this spring than residents could ever 
remember. Fortunately, when the Green River reached its peak, these marshes were 
flooded. This appeared to occur too late, however, for nesting purposes, and most 
ducks in the park were loafing rather than attempting late nests. Thus, the 37 percent 
increase in breeding-pair numbers did not mean increased production. Rather, it was 
found that final duck production was 71 percent less this year than last. Total 1953 
duck production was 407 young as compared to 1,422 in 1952 (Table VJ). 
Goose production, in Brown's Park, showed a large decrease in 1953. A total of 
18 broods and 109 goslings were observed in 1952, compared to 9 broods and 5] goslings 
in 1953, for a 53 percent decrease in young this year (Table VI). 
