
31 
Extreme southern portions of Stratum A were also affected by the 
drought but the general excellence of conditions elsewhere in the stratum, brought 
total production to a point about 16 percent above that of 1954, and 40 percent above 
the average. Brood sizes increased to 5.68 (in Stratum C, 5.00) and late summer 
observations indicated that the primary cause for the success of production on the 
prairies was the successful first nesting. 
The most successful hatch occurred in the parklands, Stratum B. 
Brood sizes averaged 6.42 per brood, a strong late hatch, particularly of divers 
was indicated, and water, though receding because of the dry summer, wasin 
plentiful supply for any late broods. 
Hail losses were of a very minor nature in 1955, a fact directly re- 
lated to the continued flow of warm dry air over the region during June, July and 
August. Losses of nests to predators in the parklands was apparently related to 
the absence of new vegetation during the period of early nesting. There losses did 
occur, however, so early in the season that a major renesting effort brought 
broods off at a time which might still be considered normal phenologically for 
mallards, pintails and canvasbacks. 
Summary 
The waterfowl breeding population index for the Province of Alberta 
in 1955 was equal to that of 1954, the highest in the history of our aerial surveys. 
The broods index was appreciably higher than in any former year. Losses of nests 
due to heavy May snows and June and July drought in Stratum C cut production in 
the south severely. More ideal weather conditions in Strata A and B were sufficient 
to offset high nest losses to predators, thus allowing for one of the most successful 
waterfowl seasons that Alberta has had since the drought of 1949-1950. 
Banding 
Two banding crews entered the field in early July, combining their 
efforts later in the season as conditions warranted. Personnel comprising these 
crews were under the field leadership of James Birch and W. Ashton Brann of the 
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the men were all employees of the Federal, 
Provincial or State Game Departments. 
Except for the first week of the banding period, the season was free 
of rain and travel relatively easy for the crews. Concentration of banding efforts 
were directed toward juvenile mallards; however, adults and young of other species 
were banded where caught. 
