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June 10 Forecast 
Once our May air surveys were completed (survey dates May 5 - 22), 
we had more tangible evidence as to prospects for the 1955 duck crop. These 
new data were so favorable that our June 10 forecast stated ..."Look for a duck 
crop that will probably be as good as that of 1952, with perhaps fewer pintails... 
but with compensatory gains among mallards and other species in the grazing 
country and the aspen parklands... There is an outside chance that the 1955 crop 
will exceed the 'Big Duck Hatch' of 1952." 
These May surveys gave southern Saskatchewan a nesting population 
index of over five and a half million ducks, a 28 percent increase over the 
indicated 1954 population. The pintail made the greatest gain, but all the other 
important species of ducks enjoyed some increase. This increase was most 
noticeable in the Saskatchewan grasslands, but important gains were registered 
also in the parklands. 
The 1955 water index of over four million ponds was the highest we 
have recorded in nearly a decade of air surveys in Saskatchewan. This figure 
was striking evidence of the ample and well distributed rainfall. The entire 
weather picture continued to be favorable as the season progressed, with no 
serious co:d periods such as interrupted the waterfowl nesting in 1953 and 1954, 
Periodic rains assured adequate water levels in the potholes and rearing ponds. 
These rains were so frequent during May that they hampered farming operations, 
permitting many stubblefield nests to hatch. 
Rains were so heavy in eastern Saskatchewan that flooding gecured 
in some localities. However, this flooding was confined for the most part to 
stream valleys and glacial drains. Fortunately most of Saskatchewan's water- 
fowl producing country is located on a plateau above the 1500 foot contour, and 
floods in stream valleys seldom affect the most productive habitats. 
The drake-pair ratio recorded in May suggested that the grasslands 
nesting effort wasproceedingon schedule. In the parklands and the grazing lands, 
the persistence of paired birds at the end of May probably reflected loss of first 
nests, since predation always is heavy in these habitats. However the unsuccess- 
ful nesters seemed to be going ahead with an immediate and strong second nesting 
attempt. 
July 25 Forecast 
Our second coverage (July 5 - 20} of the air-transects showed that 
weather and surface water continued to be most favorable, and that the bright 
early season prospects for a successful hatch were becoming a reality. July 
aerial data produced a forecast index of 266 for 1955, as compared with 240 in 
1952 and 185 in 1953, Our July 25 forecast therefore stated that..."The 1955 
waterfowl rearing season has been the best experienced in southern Saskatchewan 
in the past five years, even surpassing the outstanding 1952 season." 
