245 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN MAINE - 1953 
Howard L. Mendall 
The results of the 1953 waterfowl breeding studies in Maine are summarized 
in this report. Each year this work is conducted by the personnel of the Maine 
Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit under the supervision of the writer. He was 
assisted by Malcolm W. Coulter. Other members of the Unit staff who participated 
in the study were Claude Z. Westfall and David C. O'Meara. During the nest hunting 
activities John M. Dudley of Calais was employed as field assistant. Considerable 
additional data for this report were supplied by J. William Peppard, waterfowl 
project leader of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game; appreciation 
is herewith expressed for his cooperation. 
Coverage and Techniques 
Previous reports of this series have described Maine's waterfowl breeding 
habitat, and also the methods used in conducting the study. Coverage and techniques 
in 1953 were practically the same as in previous years, so the data are comparable. 
Breeding Populations 
The over-all waterfowl population at the start of the nesting season showed a 
slight, but not serious, decrease in 1953. This followed six consecutive years of an 
increase. The black duck - most important species in Maine - again registered a 
slight increase, but this was offset by losses among other species. Decreases were 
recorded for both the ringnecked duck and the wood duck. 
The American goldeneye and the two teal showed little change from last year, 
although their numbers are not sufficiently high on the census areas to permit accurate 
measurement. Apparently the teal reversed their trend of a year ago - with an 
increase in 1953 for the green-wing and a decrease for the blue-wing. 
The status of the initial population of the six species of breeding ducks is as 
follows; 

Species Status in 1953 
Measured on Census Areas 
Black duck 9 percent increase 
Ring-necked duck 8 percent decrease 
Wood duck 31 percent decrease 
Estimated 
Green-winged teal © Slight increase 
American goldeneye No change 
Blue-winged teal Slight decrease 
General Breeding Conditions 
For the most part the 1953 breeding season was less favorable than that of a 
year ago. The spring break-up of ice occurred at very early dates on all rivers and 
