
65 
The Breeding Population 
Two censuses of breeding pairs were made each year, the first 
beginning May 10, and the second about three weeks later or during the first 
week in June. Results are as follows: 
Table II. - Breeding Pair Census - Redvers Study Area. 
19521953, -:1954 1955-1952, :1953. 19541955 

Mallard 265 258 215 174 44.1 43.6 42,4 39.7 
B-w. Teal 142 150 95 109 23.6 25,3 18.7 25.0 
Pintail 64 55 73 44 10.6 9.3 14.4 10.1 
Baldpate 32 31 42 22 eae | 5.2 8.3 5.0 
Gew,. Teal 32 34 30 15 5.3 5,7 5.9 3.4 
Canvasback 23 24 24 25 3.8 4.0 4,7 5.7 
Shoveler — 12 13 14 ll 2,0 2.2 2.8 2.5 
L. Scaup 15 12 4 15 2.5 z.0 0.8 3.4 
Gadwall 7 6 8 3 1.2 1,0 1.6 0.7 
Ringneck 4 4 l 3 0.7 0.7 0.2 0.7 
Redhead 4 4 l 8 0.7 0.7 0.2 1.8 
Ruddy 1 l 0 9 0.2 0.2 0.0 2.0 
Total 601 592 507 438 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
Per 5q. Mi. 120 118 101 88 
Although there was an 150 percent increase in the number of water 
areas on the Redvers Study Area in 1955, the breeding pair population was at its 
lowest point in four years. Two possible explanations for this drop in population 
are: (1) very poor brood production in 1954, and (2) abundant water on the prairie 
_ to the south and west may have attracted some breeders. 
In analyzing the data by species, however, we find that some species 
actually increased over 1954 and the canvasback, scaup, redhead and ruddy duck 
were at the highest breeding peak in the entire four-year period. The lack of 
breeding ponds in South Dakota and the southern half of North Dakota no doubt 
also had an effect on Saskatchewan breeding populations. It is very likely that 
lack of habitat in the Dakotas caused the increase in divers and blue-wings plus 
the tremendous increase in the coot population which jumped from a norm of 
5 or 10 pairs to 140 pairs in 1955, 
Actually the 1955 population was 69 pairs less than in 1954 and the 
mallard-pintail breeding pair population dropped 70 pairs. Baldpate, green- 
wings and gadwall also decreased. 
