Winter Trend Data - Mississippi Flyway 
In the northern portion of the MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY, mild weather 
conditions in the fall and early winter retarded migration. Wide-spread 
drought reduced the number of water areas and made counts easier. Cold 
waves in December and during the survey period froze all but the larger 
lakes, streams, and spring holes, thus concentrating the birds or driving 
them south. In Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi drought conditions 
prevailed and the restricted waterfowl were distributed largely on | 
reservoirs, lakes, and streams where they were easier to count than 
during those years when the river bottoms were flooded. It should be 
noted that the bottoms were both flooded and frozen during the January 
i951 survey, a conditions which forced the birds into the open. They 
were flooded but not frozen in January 1952, a condition which made the 
birds difficult to count. In 1953, and also this year, the bottoms were not 
flooded and the birds were easier to count. The importance of these 
changes in conditions as they affect the waterfowl trend figures are 
difficult to evaluate but should be kept in mind when analyzing the data. 
Percent Change in Mississippi Flyway (Continental) Population Index 
Figures for Ducks, Geese, Swan and Coot from January 1953 to 1954 
Area Ducks Geese Swan Coot Total 
Ontario 26128 - - + 6.2 - 13.9 
Mississippi Flyway States + 3.4 + 18.2 +95.9 422.3 + 5.4 
Total + 3.0 + 18.2 +95,9 422.3 + 5.0 
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