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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN THE NORTHEASTERN STATES 
Francis B. Schuler 
Introduction 
The information contained in this report on summer production was collected 
from Service and State personnel and private cooperators in the same manner as last 
year. 
While the number of comparable areas available is lower than a year ago, the 
coverage is substantially the same. New Hampshire and Massachusetts, in their 
respective canoe survey and wood duck box check, submitted data that adequately 
covered the State but was reduced in intensity. No information was available from 
Pennsylvania. Last year reports were received from 19 areas in this State. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Throughout the entire Northeast rainfall from late winter and through the third 
week of May was far above normal. As an indication, rainfall in Massachusetts was 
in excess of 14 inches above average for the period ending May 30. In general the 
high water levels were consistently maintained during this period. Average mean 
temperature during the same interval was below normal. Despite the generally lower 
temperatures, vegetative prowth was advanced slightly over last year, This may be 
attributed to the lack of severe temperatures in late winter and early spring. 
Since the last week in May most of the region has been below normal in rainfall 
with drought conditions being common now in the Northeast. High temperatures and 
humidity have been fairly constant through June. 
The abnormal high tides experienced last spring on the productive coastal 
marshes did not occur this year. 
Breeding Population Trends 
Observers from widely scattered portions of the region felt that there was an 
ample supply of breeding pairs of blacks and wood ducks for satisfactory local 
production. The absence of generally low temperatures during the late winter and 
early spring probably accounted for the earlier nesting than last year. This season 
was ahead of last year and much earlier than normal. The heavy rain after nesting. 
had begun apparently drowned many nests. While the rains were general over the 
region, the nesting losses from this factor appeared variable; some observers 
reported this condition while others did not feel it important. The varied terrain in 
the Northeast may account for this. Where flooding has occurred many observers 
reported renesting and to a substantial degree. 
Brood Production Trends 
A summary of production data from 130 comparable areas is presented in 
Table I. 
