239 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN MARYLAND 
William R. Nicholson 
Introduction 
The aerial transect method of obtaining brood production indices was used in 
Maryland in 1953. This method was first used in 1952 and is described in the 
Breeding Ground Report for that year. 
In addition to the production surveys, a study was made of the black ducks 
nesting in the Parson Island area of Eastern Bay. This work was done by Vernon L. 
Stolts, who at the present time is a graduate student at the University of Illinois. 
Methods Used in Sampling and Area Covered 
Ste pe dre a a ee ag og 
Aerial Transect 
Several revisions were made in the aerial transect surveys that were conducted 
in 1953. These revisions were based mainly on the results obtained during the 
previous year. Many unpopulated regions were eliminated from the survey. Large 
contigious marshes were sampled by transects 1/8-mile wide. Areas with irregular 
and heavily indented shorelines were sampled by counting broods on a percentage 
of the total shoreline, which had previously been determined from large scale maps. 
All the areas surveyed were considered as unditched estuarine marsh, with the 
exception of the ditched coastal marsh between Chincoteague and Assawoman Bays. 
Nesting Study 
The nesting study was confined to two islands and part of the nearby mainland 
in the northern part of Eastern Bay, in Queen Anne County. 
Parsons Island, the larger of the two, is approximately 125 acres. About 70 
acres is formed; the rest is woodland and marsh. Bodkin Island is about five acres. 
It is entirely wooded and has an understory of poison ivy and honey-suckle which 
forms thick tangled growths. No mammalian predators are known to occur on either 
of the islands. The vegetation on the mainland is similar to that found on the islands. 
The islands and mainland were regularly searched for nests from the last week 
in March until the middle of July. Nests were observed until they had hatched or 
were destroyed. 
Success of the Season 

Aerial Transects 
Nearly all of the flights made in 1952 were for reconnaissance purposes. The 
revisions made. in 1953 were so extensive that none of the data are comparable for the 
two years. Therefore, only the results of this year's flights are presented. 
A large block of marsh totaling 106 square miles in the Elliot Island - 
Blackwater River region of Dorchester County was selected for weekly surveys which 
were started June 8 and which ended July 24, Six flights were made during the period. 
