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Comparison of Canoe and Aerial Census on Rivers 
Four of the rivers censused by the airplane were also covered by canoe at 
about the same time in 1953. Each-of the rivers was located in a different stratum 
in an attempt to determine whether results by the two methods would be any more 
comparable under any one set of conditions than another. The data collected in the 
two ways are given in Table VIII. 
Table VIII. - Data Obtained by Aerial and Canoe Coverage of the Same Four Rivers 
hh Vrmh rrr EES eee 
Mileage Waterfowl Observed Waterfowl Per Mile 
Strata Covered Broods Pairs Broods Pairs 
ADIRONDACK . 
Raquette River 
Aerial 29.90 4 3 0.14 0.10 
‘Canoe 13.2 5 11 0.38 83 
BEECH-MAPLE 
Genesee River 
Aerial 42.0 4 3 0.10 0.07 
Canoe 10.0 0 0 = a 
ALLEGHANY 
Unadilla River 
Aerial 10,0 l 3 0.10 0.30 
Canoe 10.0 7 7 0.70 0.70 
OAK-CHESTNUT 
Esopus Creek 
Aerial 20.0 0 0 0 0 
Canoe 10.2 0 0 0 0 

It would appear that penerally the waterfowl observations by canoe were more 
thorough, at least over the same stretches of river as run this year, since from 
2 to 8 times as many birds were seen as by air. However, this in itself should not 
invalidate the aerial data provided a comparable index is obtained each year, especially 
since a much greater coverage can be made quicker and more cheaply by this method. 
Only a 10-mile mid-portion of the Genesee River was censused by canoe, which proved 
to be barren as compared to the rest of the stretch flown. The chief reason for 
differences in the two census methods was the over-hanging trees and brush which 
hid the birds from aerial observation. 
Summary 
The aerial transect and cluster problem breeding survey this year showed 
encouraging increases in waterfowl broods over 1951 and 1952 of 4.4 percent and 
284.8 percent respectively. These, of course, are extremely variable indices, and 
surely the method used in obtaining them needs modification, but for the years in 
question it is believed that they do show trends. 
