164 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY- MONTANA 
1955 
Wynn Freeman 
Introduction 
In 1955 the Montana Fish and Game Department conducted their 
seventh annual breeding ground survey. The aerial survey for breeding popula- 
tions was made in essentially the same manner as preceding years. Again 
ground surveys for species composition and nesting success was very limited 
because of lack of personnel. 
The aerial surveys were conducted by Don Brown and Ralph Cooper 
(pilots), Wynn Freeman, Dale Witt, Dick Trueblood, Tom Hay, Robert Eng 
(observers), all of the Montana Fish and Game Department. Ground surveys 
were made by Dick Trueblood, Dale Witt, Robert Eng, Joe Egan, Merle Rognrud, 
and Dwight Stockstad. 
Climatic Conditions 
For the third consecutive year, Montana's winter has been marked by 
moderate weather conditions. Above-average temperatures and below-average 
precipitation prevailed from November through the month of January; ranges 
were generally free of snow cover until the middle of February. Heavy snowfalls 
during the month of April in the eastern and central hi-line regions resulted ina 
drastic reversal of the seasons trend. The Medicine Lake weather station 
reported a departure from normal precipitation of +2.60 inches whereas the 
Havre station in the central hi-line reported a departure from normal of +2. 82 
inches. The western piedmont region and the area west of the continental divide 
continued to receive below average precipitation for this period. Weather and 
water conditions have remained good to excellent in May, June, July and the first 
part of August throughout the major waterfowl producing areas of the State. Elmo 
Adams of the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge had this to say about the 
Sheridan Moraine and the eastern hi-line (personal correspondence), ''This year 
many small potholes in surrounding areas held water all through the summer and 
furnished nesting sites for a great many ducks. Since the potholes did not dry 
up the birds did not move into the refuge, as they usually do, until about 
September 1." 
