
75 
Banding 
The 1955 banding data are summarized in Table II. 
Between May 15 and June 21, 59 mallard hens were trapped on nests. 
Thirty-one of these were trapped and neckbanded in 0.75 square mile of habitat 
between May 15 and 22; all lost their nests and nine were found renesting in the 
Same area. 
Between June 21 and August 19, 1,506 flightless young mallards were 
banded; 786 of these were also neckbanded as an aid in determining dispersal. 
More than half of the total were caught by dogs; drive-trapping accounted for the 
remainder. Two, two-man crews, working separately with a year-old Chesapeake 
retriever and a three-year old Labrador retriever cross, banded 683 of the local 
mallards in the equivalent of nine full days between July 14 and August 15. 
During the 1955 banding operations seven hen mallards banded in 1954 
were recaptured. Five had been banded as flightless young and two had been 
adults with broods the previous year; four of the five young had been neckbanded 
and one still had its neckband intact. All seven were retrapped less than two miles 
from their 1954 banding locations. 
Direct Returns of Locally-Raised Mallards 
Banded in the Kindersley District - 1952-1954 
These recoveries are summarized in Table III. No attempt has been 
made to adjust them for differential hunting pressures. Neckbanded and normal 
mallards are included. 
The 1954 direct recovery rate (after allowing for a 10 percent loss 
through deaths caused by neckbands) was about eight percent. Direct returns 
within 50 miles of the banding area when compared to total returns have varied 
from 22 to 54 percent. (See Table I). 
Although recoveries from Texas and Arkansas accounted for 21 per- 
cent of the United States recoveries accumulated for the three years, all recover- 
ies from these States were for 1954 bandings. 
Table I. - Comparison of Local to Total Recoveries. 
: Percent 
Year Total Banded Total Returns Local Returns 
1952 88 12+ 25 
1953 525 48 54 
1954 . 1,572 116 22 
