18 

Breeding Population Trends 
The ground survey in the Cariboo Parklands was carried out from 
May 30 to June 3. The total number of ducks counted was up about 10 percent 
over 1954, and was about the same as in 1953. The waterfowl population has 
remained fairly constant on the Cariboo study lakes over the past five years, 
The drop recorded last year may have been real, or may have been due to 
various factors --different personnel or earlier survey. No appreciable change 
in species numbers is apparent this year except for the bufflehead which almost 
doubled in numbers over 1954. Comparative spring counts for the Cariboo 
Parklands are listed in Table I, Only one brood, five goslings with a pair of 
Canada geese, was recorded throughout the Cariboo survey. 
Table 1.- Comparative Counts - Cariboo Parklands - Spring, 1946-1955% 

Species 1946 1947 1949 1950 1951 1952 1954 1955 
Canada Goose - = ~ - - 2 - 11 
Mallard 39 35 10 35 61 107 43 45 
Pintail 12 15 l 19 10 18 20 25 
Baldpate 73 56 13 28 53 41 38 31 
Gadwall - - - - - 2 2 6 
G-w, Teal 7 19 Z 5 ll 19 - 10 
B-w. Teal - - - - 31 12 Z 3 
Shoveler 5 9 2 5 12 15 12 ll 
Redhead 12 28 32 32 37 32 30 22 
Ringneck 3 7 - - Z - - 11 
Canvasback 21 17? 25 20 31 ll 26 28 
L. Scaup 403 457 155 476 241 205 247 221 
Goldeneye 57 116 66 136 142 175 157 117 
Bufflehead 79 100 30 117 89 95 72 130 
Ruddy Duck 31 42 28 59 92 91 92 82 
Unidentified - - - - - 1l - 75 
Total Ducks ** 742 901 364 932 812 834 741 817 
Total Coots 447 167 35 170 154 107 201 139 
* With the exception of 1948 and 1953. 
** Total ducks includes Canada goose count, 
The aerial surveys of the Cariboo, Chilcotin, Prince George and 
Rocky Mountain Trench regions of British Columbia were carried out from 
May 14 to May 24, 1955. Asexplained earlier, the methods of obtaining the 
aerial sample were modified somewhat this year and a larger sample was 
obtained. Table II compares the waterfowl population indices over the past 
