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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN IDAHO, 1955 
Robert L. Salter 
Introduction 
Most of the data presented here were pathered under Federal Aid 
Project 96-R-6 with biologists Charles S. Blake, Edwood G. Bizeau, Charles 
D. Haynes, Jr. and Hugh A. Harper, Jr., responsible for the collection of 
material in Districts 4, 5, 3, and 1 and 2, respectively. Mr. F. Sheldon Dart, 
Refuge Manager, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, again cooperated in con- 
ducting the Homedale goose nesting and banding work. Mr. C. G. Wolf, Refuge 
Manager, Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge, assisted in the goose banding at 
the refuge. Mr. Newell Morgan, Refuge Manager, Camas National Wildlife 
Refuge, participated in the brood counts taken on the refuge. Mr. James S, 
Cromwell, Game Management Agent, assisted in the Homedale banding work. 
-Many Idaho Fish and Game Department employees, including conservation 
officers, refuge managers and biologists, cooperated in the banding and brood 
count work. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
The average temperatures over the State in March and April were 
the second lowest on record. May was also a cold month with the largest snowfall 
average ever recorded. June had nearly normal precipitation and temperatures 
and July was about average except for excessive rainfall in the northern part of 
the State. The average temperature for the State for August was above normal 
for the first time since last December. Many reservoirs in southern Idaho were 
at below normal levels by the end of summer. 
Nesting in most areas was delayed about two weeks from last year. 
Inclement weather in the form of snow storms apparently affected goose nesting 
success on Island Park Reservoir. 
4 Migration 
The 1955 winter inventory showed 13 percent fewer waterfowl] in the 
State this year than last. This was believed to be primarily due to the fact that 
more of the water areas had frozen and the birds had been forced on south. The 
spring migration of waterfowl passed through the State in apparently normal 
numbers. There were no large buildups in any areas and the bulk of the birds 
were in evidence during the last two weeks of March and the first week in April. 
