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A cold wet April apparently discouraged some ducks from nesting success- 
fully, because the percent of females observed in flocks was greater than in 1951 
and 1952. 
The waterfowl breeding phenology was similar to that of 1952, both years 
being considered early. Most duck broods were observed between June 25 and 
July 10, 
Based on the fact that the estimated breeding pairs showed a 96 percent 
increase over 1952, that the number of young produced per breeding pair changed 
only slightly from the number produced in 1952, and that the average brood size 
showed a 6 percent increase over 1952, it is concluded that the waterfowl production 
trend in Wisconsin was upward this year, as compared to 1951 and 1952. 
Summary of Summer Waterfowl Banding Operations 
No trapping and banding of wild ducks was carried out between June 15 and 
September 15. Hand-reared mallards, and wild and artificially propagated Canada 
peese were banded and released. A breakdown of the birds handled is presented 

below. 
Adult Adult Immature Immature 
Species Male Female Male Female Total 
Mallard (Hand-reared) 83 257 1,153 916 2,409 
Canada Geese (Wild) 0 5 0 0 5 
Canada Geese (Propagated) 0 0 46 28 74 

