
Weather and Water Conditions 
After a slow start in May the season turned out to be an early one 
with phenological advancement marked in all sections of the survey area. Through- 
out June temperatures were above normal, and although there was little rainfall, 
euriect waters were in better shape than a year previously. Even though water 
levels in general were higher there was no evidence of flooding in the river deltas. 
Consequently, nesting conditions were ideal throughout the area. As evidence of 
an early season several broods of Class I ducklings were observed between 
June 4 and 19, a situation rarely noted in the far northern areas during June. 
Breeding Populations 
The index population figures presented in Table I are corrected for 
missing hens. Hence, they are not comparable with figures presented in previous 
years. The percentage figures representing change in status, however, are 
computed on the old basis of ducks per square mile actually seen. 
Summary 
Despite favorable climatic and surface water conditions, game ducks 
in general decreased 41 percent from 1954. This is serious enough in itself, but 
it also represents the fowth consecutive annual decrease in the far northern 
waterfowl population, the last increase being recorded in 1951. All species 
decreased with the exception of blue-winged teal, redhead, and goldeneye. Of 
these the first two are numerically unimportant except in the extreme southern 
portion of the survey area, 
Taken by area, decreases were recorded in all except the Athabaska 
Delta and the Upland Tundra. The former contained a large influx of premoulting 
males due to the early season, and the latter occupied a "no change" status. 
Canada geese over the entire area decreased 22 percent and whistling 
swans decreased 36 percent. Too small a sample of white-fronted geese was 
obtained to be significant for that species, and the sampling pattern set up did 
not allow for any coverage of the colonial nesting geese. 
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