' CENTRAL FLYWAY 
gcc Zen OTS 
‘Weather and Water Conditions - A mild open winter prevailed but in 
late April and early May heavy snows and rains developed and assured a 
better than average supply of water, Continued cool weather and precipitation 
g7rovided an abundance of water areas, The State-wide density of water areas 
at the period of sruvey increased from 6,09 areas in 1952 to 7,41 areas in 
1953, an increase of 22 percent, Unfortunately, the rainy weather contineed 
into June, flooding lowlands and creating unfavorable nesting conditions 
Brqughout the: major nesting period of the mallard and pintail. 
‘ 2) ceding. epdlation Indices -: Based on aerial and ground surveys, the ° 
tpreeding population of ducks in South Dakota ‘remained the same as in 1952. 
‘The. density only changed from 13,37 to 13,65 ducks per square mile, © The 
‘coat breeding population also showed no significant change, from 5.5 to 5.9 
per. st ad mile, Species indices are shown, in the following tabulation: 




Indices to Total upeceging Pairs | 
Percent of Change of 

31 
Species 1952 Index 1953 Index 1953 Index from 
Av. (a) © .1952 (b) 
Mallard - 75, 399 65, 804 ~ 12 
Pintail 124,505 77, 395 - 38 
B-w. Teal 217,977. 248, 263 + 14 
- Gey. Teal 375 375 . 
Gadwall . 15, 329 15, 703 ae 2 
Baldpate 2,243 2,243 = 
Shoveler | 35,519 48,605 + 37 
Black Duck - tr. sd 
Wood Duck tr. 375 - 
, Cinnamon Teal tr. - = 
Total Puddlers ‘471, 347 458, 763 -207 
Redhead | 12, 338. 15, 329 + 24 
| Cangasback 3, 265 1,869 ~ 44 
Scaup _ 4, 860 27, 294 +461 
Ruddy Duck 8,973 7,104 - 21 
Bufflehead - tr. - 
Total Divers 29, 436 51,596 + 75 
Total Ducks 500, 783 510, 359 + 2 
Coot 411,279 441,190 + 
