210 
Summary 
1, An excellent breeding waterfowl population was found on the May breeding 
pair inventory. Auto transect data showed an increase over 1952 of approximately 
30 percent in the number of breeding pairs. This spring 56 percent more pairs of 
blue-winged teal were seen than in 1952, 
2. Weather conditions during May and June were generally poor for waterfowl 
nesting. Heavy rains caused water levels to rise considerably in many parts of the 
State. The rains were often of a cloudburst nature with heavy downpours in short 
periods of time. 
3. Brood counts were conducted on 36 water and pothole transect areas from 
June 29 to July 10, These areas were all censused during this same period in 1952. 
Fewer broods were seen on 25 of the 36 areas. Onall 36 areas, 136 broods were 
seen compared with 256 broods in 1952. Many more paired adults were seen this 
year. 
4, In an attempt to evaluate the entire breeding season, three brood counts 
were made during June, July, and August on 27 water areas and pothole transect 
routes, <A total of 354 broods was aged according to the method discussed by 
Blankenship et al in TECHNIQUES FOR BROOD PRODUCTION STUDIES. A curve 
of hatching dates was prepared to possibly provide an index to waterfowl production. 
Since the method of aging is relatively new and was tried for the first time this year, 
it is difficult to interpret the data with certainty. However, some speculation lends 
to the matter. 
5. Sixty-four percent of the 354 broods recorded on three-count areas were 
judged to have hatched on or before July 4, and the highest peak of the hatch came 
in the period of June 21 - 27. Thus, the main hatch occurred during or previous 
to the general brood counts of June 29 to July 10 which showed fewer broods than in 
1952. A second smaller peak was shown for the week of July 12 - 18. These data 
indicate that 1953 waterfowl production was down considerably, due to adverse 
weather and breeding conditions in May and June. 
