206 
1951 1952 1953 
Counties: 51 48 48 
Total Miles: 1,945 1,853 1,891 
Total Water Areas: 1,693 1,451 2,150 
Areas Occupied: 340 429 549 
Water Areas Per Square Mile: 3.5 3.1 4.6 
Percent Occupied: 20.1 29.6 25.5 
Total pairs: 603 876 1,141 
Pairs P2r Square Mile: 1.24 1,89 2.41 
Total Ducks: 1,219 1,590 2,885 
Ducks Per Square Mile: 2.51 3.43 6.11 
Coots ‘ 145 539 535 
The increase was largely in the number of blue-winged teal. Tiis year 56 
percent more pairs of blue-winged teal were recorded than in 1952 (Table I). This 
year 52.9 percent of the breeding pairs recorded along the transects were blue- 
winged teal compared with 44.1 percent in 1952. The number of mallard pairs 
increased by 18 percent over 1952; and pintail pairs increased by 3l percent. A 
23 percent decrease was noted in the number of ringneck duck pairs. Redhead 
pairs decreased by 9 percent. Increases in the number of pairs were noted in 
Areas V, VIII, IX, X, and XII. Decreases or little change were noted in Areas 
II, III, IV, VI, VII, and XI. Ringneck pairs appeared to be somewhat down in 
numbers over their entire range in the State. 
Lesser Scaup are migrants in Minnesota except for the few pairs that nest in 
the northwest corner of the State. This year many of these ducks lingered late into 
May and account in part for the large number of total ducks tallied on the transect 
routes. The increase in total ducks recorded on auto transects was over 80 percent 
more than last year. Lesser Scaup and all other duck Species are recorded on the 
aerial transects(Table 2) and the increase in total ducks over 1952 was 71 percent. 
Success of the Season 
Brood counts were made on 36 water and pothole transect areas. These 
censuses were all made in 1952 so a direct comparison was possible. The dates 
were from June 29 to July 10 both years. Most individual areas or routes were 
censused at approximately the same time during the census period each year. 
These brood count areas are distributed in all parts of the State. 
Fewer broods than in 1952 were seen on 25 of the 36 areas. The same number 
was recorded on 7 areas and more broods were seen on 4 areas, 
This year 136 broods were seen compared with 256 broods in 1952, This was 
a decrease of 46.9 percent. Many more paired adults were seen on the census areas 
this year; 232 compared with 72 last spring. Fewer broods were seen of all species 
except goldeneye. There were 17 goldeneye broods recorded compared with 10 
broods last year. The following tabulation shows age class distribution and average 
size of broods for 1952 and 1953: 
