
125 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND STUDIES-MARITIME PROVINCES, 1955 
George F. Boyer, Brian C. Carter and Jean Vaillancourt 
Introduction 
Annual waterfowl breeding ground studies have been carried out in the 
Maritime Provinces since 1949. This year, for the first time, the work was 
carried out entirely by the Canadian Wildlife Service. 
Certain revisions in the aerial survey were made this year. The 
boreal forest transects in southwestern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were 
discontinued as it was believed that better results could be obtained by employing 
the time and personnel on an increased program of ground survey work. 
The same aircraft were used as last year, and once again thanks is 
expressed to Mr. G. L. Miller, Chief Forester, Department of Lands and Mines, 
Fredericton, N. B., and Mr. G. W. I. Creighton, Deputy Minister, Department 
of Lands and Forests, Halifax, N. S., for the use of Provincial aircraft. 
An intensification of ground study work was undertaken during both the 
spring and summer surveys in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is believed that 
ground survey work in this region will produce better results during the summer 
brood production counts. An additional advantage in ground coverage during the 
brood season is that banding of locally raised birds may be carried out with the 
aid of dogs. 
In addition to banding with the aid of dogs, traps were operated in the 
New Brunswick-Nova Scotia border region. 
Methods 
Spring, summer, and pre-hunting season surveys were carried out by 
air. Figures obtained by this method are used in trend comparisons in this report. 
Ground surveys were intensified and will be repeated and probably increased next 
year. It is hoped in future to have enough material from ground surveys to use in 
brood trend comparisons. . 
Weather and Water Conditions 
During the winter of 1954-1955 the precipitation throughout the 
Maritimes was very high. In northern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and through- 
out Prince Edward Island there was a heavy blanket of snow. This snow 
disappeared without causing any abnormal fluctuations in water levels. 
