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WISCONSIN WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND AND PRODUCTION SURVEYS, 1953 
Laurence R. Jahn 
Introduction 
Purpose and History of Survey 
In 1949 ‘and 1950 Wisconsin employed extensive ground and aerial transects 
to find out the densities of breeding waterfowl in the State. It was learned that, with 
only a few exceptions, densities of breeding waterfowl were low when compared to 
the prime breeding range farther north. Therefore, in 1951, a simple spot-type 
sampling system was initiated to follow the trends in our State waterfowl breeding 
population. This system has been employed each year since 1951. 
Organization and General Course of Work 
The 20 district game managers of the five administrative areas of the State 
game division again conducted the field work for the waterfowl surveys. Advisory 
assistance was given this group of men by personnel of the Pittman-Robertson 
waterfowl research (6-R) and game survey (25-R) projects. 
Methods and Descriptions 
Methods Used in Sampling 
For a detailed discussion of the methods used to follow trends in the State 
waterfowl production picture in 1951 and 1952, see U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Special Scientific Report: Wildlife No. 12 (1951), or Wisconsin Wildlife Research 
X: 3:10-24 (1951). The system used in those two years was modified slightly this 
year, The highlights of the sampling system and the modifications are described 
here, 
1, Each game manager, except in districts 10 and 17, was asked to 
census at least 15 water areas in his district by ground. Each district 
was requested to cover at least 75 percent of the same water sites 
censused in 1952. It was sugpested that the pame managers dropa 
few undesirable census areas, but not more than 25 percent of the 
total sites per district. No aerial work was carried out. 
(a)° The water sites were censused once during the breeding 
ground survey from May 10-30 during regular working hours, 
The same water areas were covered once during the production 
survey from June 29-July 10, between 4:00 and 8:00 a.m. The 
hour and one-half immediately preceding sunset was also used 
for running production surveys in afew cases. In 195] and 1952 
two production surveys were conducted. 
(b) The 20 game districts in the State were again divided into 
three groups. Each group had different calendar dates for 
conducting the waterfowl surveys to correct for widely varying 
phenological differences. 
