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Summer conditions were somewhat dryer than at first anticipated, 
with all portions of the State below normal in this regard. However, itis 
believed that adequate waters remained to carry existing populations through the 
summer. State-wide water conditions in 1955 were, on the average, definitely 
improved over 1954. 
Results 
A summary of 1955 breeding pair counts is compared in Table I with 
counts for previous years. Examination of the totals by areas shows that the 
drouth had a very definite effect on the number of pairs using each portion of the 
State this year. For example, the western slope breeding areas, in general, had 
adequate waters accompanied by an increase in breeding pair numbers. In con- 
trast, the eastern slope, including North Park, did not have satisfactory water 
conditions at the beginning of the breeding season and populations were well below 
the past several years. 
Considering the entire State, duck breeding pair totals were down 5.9 
percent from 1954; down 32.3 percent from 1953 on the basis of five areas; and 
up 11.6 percent from 1952 on the basis of three areas. Geese were drastically 
reduced in numbers this year being 73.4 percent under the three-year average 
1952 to 1954. Reasons for this reduction is attributed partially to hunting pressure 
and reduction of nesting habitat. Degree of importance of each factor is not known 
at this time. 
Species composition of the current breeding population is contrasted 
in Table II with that of 1954 revealing that the majority of species remained about 
the same as last year. The main exceptions were mallards, which decreased 
slightly, and gadwalls which showed a definite increase. The several species of 
divers nesting in Colorado (redhead and scaup) also showed an increase in breeding 
population this year. 
Results of the limited brood survey are briefly summarized in Table III 
which shows an estimated increase of 16.6 percent in the number of broods, and 
13.2 percent increase in the number of young produced on these areas this year 
over last. Thus, despite low water conditions and reduced breeding populations in 
some areas at the beginning of the nesting season, nesting success was generally 
improved over last year resulting in increased production in Colorado for 1955. 
