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Wildlife Area and vicinity (Dodge County), and the Central Wisconsin Conservation 
Area (Jackson and Juneau Counties). Areas which reported goslings for the first 
time this year were Lake Wisconsin (Columbia County) and a small lake in north- 
western Wisconsin (Chippewa County). Reports of non-breeding adult Canada 
geese observed after June 1 were received from Brown, Columbia, Chippewa, 
Dodge, Door, Jackson, Juneau, and Vilas Counties. 
Summary 
The spring waterfowl migration through Wisconsin was slightly behind 
schedule due to cold weather in March. With above normal temperatures and 
rainfall in April the northward movements of ducks and geese were rather leisurely 
with the only major exodus occurring on April 17 to April 20. Nesting activities 
began seven to 10 days earlier than normal. The hatching and rearing period 
experienced fairly heavy rains in early June and an extended dry period in late 
June and July. 
Recognizing (1) that brood observations were made with low water 
levels existing, thereby minimizing the number of broods observed (2) that the 
breeding ducks per acre increased slightly over the four-year average (3) that 
the number of female ducks which nested in Wisconsin was higher than average 
(4) that the number of young per breeding pair was about average (5) that the 
average brood size was the highest on record and (6) that the number of potential 
broods predicted to hatch after the state-wide surveys were completed is the 
highest on record, it is concluded that waterfowl production in Wisconsin was 
above average in 1955. 
Summary of Summer Waterfowl! Banding Operations 
Two representatives of the Wisconsin Conservation Department 
participated in the cooperative Flyway project of banding waterfowl on the 
Canadian breeding grounds. No trapping or banding of ducks and coots was 
carried out in Wisconsin between June 15 and September 15. A breakdown of the 
Canada geese which were banded and released in Wisconsin is presented below. 


Adult Immature 
Male Female Male Female Total 
Canada Geese (Wild) 5 2 - - 7 
Canada Geese (Bupa aaites} - - 48 48 96 
1 
Blue Goose l - | - - 
