
Table 2 - Species Composition of the May 1954 and 1955 Waterfowl 
Population of Southern Manitoba 
1954 1955 _ .Percent Change 
Species Number Percent Number Percent 1954 to 1955 
Pintail 63, 100 11.4 137, 800 16.6 +118 
Mallard 255, 300 46.2 379, 200 45.8 + 48 
Baldpate 17, 300 3.1 29, 600 3.6 + 7] 
Shoveler 19, 000 3.4 27,200 3.1 + 43 
Gadwall 8, 400 1.5 9,100 1.1 + 8 
B-w. Teal 67, 700 12.3 95,900 11.6 + 42 
G-w. Teal 7,900 1.4 4,100 Pes - 48 
Scaup 40, 600 7.4 59,200 Eyl + 46 
Canvasback 30, 800 5.6 32,200 3.9 + 4 
Redhead 17, 800 a2 27,600 as + 55 
Ringneck 4,100 a A 1,700 ot - 58 
Ruddy 4,500 .8 14,100 L.7 +213 
Goldeneye 6,400 ae 4,200 5 - 34 
Bufflehead 8,000 1.5 5,900 ray - 26° 
Scoter 300 tr. 200 tr. - 33 
Merganser 300 tr. 100 tr. - 67 
Total Ducks 551,500 99.7 828, 100 99.9 + 50 
Coot 8,900 28,500 
+220 
Table 3 shows that there was an increase over the last two years 
in percentage of lone drakes for the two strata. This would indicate that 
the nesting was considerably earlier this year than it was during the two 
previous years. Pospichal reports sighting his first pintail brood on May 13. 
Table 3 - The Progress of Early Nesting (Percentage of Lone Males in 
Ducks Observed by Air) in Southern Manitoba 
% Males in % Males in % Males in 
YEAR STRATUM "A"! STRATUM "'B" — STRATA "A" & "'B! 
1953 29.4% 34. 6% 31. 6% 
1954 39.2% 51.2% 44.1% 
1955 66.0% 77.1% 77.1% 

60 
