247 
Summary and Conclusions 
1, The population of breeding waterfowl in Maine at the start of the 1953 
nesting season was a little lower than a year ago. The black duck was increased, 
but these gains were offset by losses to the ring-necked duck and the wood duck. 
2. Breeding conditions were not as good this year as in 1952, largely 
because of a very wet spring and a very dry summer. The water was too high for 
optimum nesting conditions but dropped rapidly until it was too low for good rearing 
success. ; 
3. Nesting success was appreciably below that of a year ago. Broods 
likewise were smaller in size in 1953, especially those approaching flying age. 
4. Although no serious decline in the numbers of breeding waterfowl in 
Maine was indicated for 1953, it is likely that over-all productivity was appreciably 
less than in 1952, 
Table I. - Waterfowl Census Data - Number of Breeding Pairs 
Black Duck Ring-neck Wood Duck 

| Pairs . Pairs Pairs 
W Rese Yre heres SR Pa eg ee en, Bee ee ee ee 
St. John River, Van Buren 9 10 ba m as J 
Portage Lake 5 4 17 18 3 4 
Meduxnekeag Stream, Hodgdon 4 5 - - 2 3 
Musquash Stream, Grand Lake Stream ll 20 9 13 - - 
Pocamoonshine-Crawford Lakes 40 45 80 55 ll 4 
St. Croix River, Baring 10 12 - - 5 3 
Moosehorn Refuge, Calais 3] 31 9 4 - - 
Pennamaquan River, Pembroke 5 5 12 - 18 - - 
Mattanawcook Lake, Lincoln 3 l 4 6 - - 
Penobscot River, Lincoln-Enfield 15 16 - - 10 7 
Pushaw Stream, Orono-Old Town 4 6 - - 3 3 
Davis -Holbrook Thorofare, Eddington 5 5 4 4 ~ - 
Corinna Stream, Corinna 8 7 10 14 9 4 
Goose River, Belfast-Swanville ll 8 15 12 - - 
Snake Pond, Brooksville - - 2 5 s * 
Boyden Lake, Perry - - - - 2 1 
Ruffingham Meadow, Searsmont - ~ - - 10 8 
Scammon Marsh, Eastbrook - ~ - - 6 5 
Total 161 175 162 °&149 61 42 
