
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY 
The mid-winter survey in the Mississippi Flyway showed that 
populations of ducks, geese, and coot remained at approximately the same leve 
as last year. 
When the birds returned to the breeding grounds this spring, they 
found drought conditions prevailing in South Dakota and parts of North Dakota, 
Minnesota, and Ontario. However, water levels were at an all-time high in 
northern North Dakota, southern Manitoba, and southern Saskatchewan. Else- 
where, water conditions were adequate and the season was from 10 days to 
two weeks earlier than in 1954. Conditions favorable to production have 
continued throughout the season, except in the drought areas, and possibly in 
southern Manitoba where flooding may have caused adverse conditions. 
During spring migration, breeding populations were attracted to 
areas where water was plentiful, and drought areas were avoided. Asa 
result, breeding populations were reduced in South Dakota, Minnesota, and 
Ontario, while increases were recorded in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and 
North Dakota. 
Production surveys during July have indicated that the combination 
of an early season and favorable habitat conditions have paid off abundantly in 
Saskatchewan and southern Alberta, and that there will be increases also in 
the fall flight from North Dakota and Michigan. It is believed that the 
increases are more than enough to off-set the decreases which are anticipated 
from South Dakota, Indiana, Minnesota, and the Northwest Territories. There 
fore, it is estimated that there will be a considerable increase in the fall 
flight of ducks in the Mississippi Flyway this fall. 
Production information for Canada geese and coot is favorable also 
and it is estimated that there will be a moderate increase in the fall flight of 
these species. On the basis of winter survey data for blue geese, including 
age composition information, it is estimated that the fall flight of this species 
will be about the same as last year. 

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