
251 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN DELAWARE 
1955 
Everett B. Chamberlain 
Introduction 
This report summarizes the results of the 1955 waterfowl breeding 
studies in Delaware. This work has been conducted annually for the past 
several years by personnel of the Federal Aid Division of the Delaware Game 
and Fish Commission. This year, as usual, the work was under the direction 
of the writer. However, since he was in Labrador for the summer, the aerial 
transects were flown by Mr. Bain of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with 
Henry Cofer of Delaware as observer. Courtland Smith of Ellendale, Delaware, 
did the work on the ground study area at Primehook Neck. 
Methods Used in Sampling and Area Covered 
As in previous years both intensive ground coverage and aerial 
transects were used. However, as in 1954, a shortage of personnel and the 
pressure of seasonal work made it impossible to cover all of the areas that were 
formerly designated as permanent ground study areas. For that reason only 
the area at Primehook Neck, which has been used since 1951, was covered this 
year. 
Aerial transects, based on ecological types, on the pattern worked 
out by the Waterfowl Biometry Office at Patuxent Research Refuge, were run 
again this year. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Weather and water conditions were essentially the same as in 1954 
with very little precipitation throughout the breeding season, except that the 
extreme drought of early 1954 was not repeated in 1955. There were no other 
unusual climatalogical conditions and, in contrast to the 1954 breeding season, 
the drought seems to have had no effect on brood production. 
Success of the Season 
It was observed last year that the severe early drought probably was 
the reason so few broods were seen at the time,the aerial transects were flown. 
This observation is substantiated by the fact that this year, with the dry weather 
coming a jittle later in the season, seven broods were seen, as opposed to two 
