ATLANTIC FLYWAY 
The annual survey during January 1953 to determine relative changes in q 
the wintering population of waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway revealed that the 
index figure for ducks has been rising rather steadily for the past five yeazs. 
The index shows-a 20 percent rise over last year, the increase being due to 
greater numbers of black duck, pintail, _canvasback, mallard, wood duck and 
several minor species, The goose index was 60 percent above last year with 
both the Canada and the snow goose. increasing in numbers. It is of interest to 
note that the brant increased again in spite. of opening the season last fall 
for the first time in several years There. was also a major increase in the 
numbers of coot. : 
On the breeding grounds this spring much the same picture held true, 
In the important breeding areas of Ontario, Quebeé- and Labrador, the breeding 
pair count was up considerably, In the northeastern States, it was estimated 
to be about the same. Diving ducks were found in ‘about the same, or Slightly 
increased numbers in the Prairie Provinces. : 
‘The weather on the breeding grounds saopliar the Flyway was average 
this year, The winter was mild with little snow, As the season progressed, 
there were heavy rains in the western part of the Maritimes, southern Quebec, 
and along the coast of Labrador, Some places in the northeastern States 
reported fiooding and nest destruction, but in other places, particularly Maine, 
a drought developed as the summer progressed, In the western areas which 
supply the diving ‘ducks to the Flyway, the season was cold and wet which <q 
delayed nesting considerably, Diving ducks are late nesters normally, and by 
the time they started to nest, water conditions were very good and the weather 
had improved to some extent, 
| Brood survey reports are almost uniformly optimistic. Although this is 
the first year for a brood survey in Quebec and Labrador, which means that 
comparative data are lacking, there is nothing to indicate that the production 
observed is not average for this important region. Considering the increased 
breeding population, it is estimated that there will be more birds produced in 
this area than a year ago. An increased production is also estimated for the 
Maritimes. In Newfoundland, Ontario, and the northeastern States, it is 
believed that production will be from the same to slightly better, In the western 
areas it is anticipated that Saskatchewan and Manitoba will send an increased 
number of diving ducks to the Flyway this fall and that the. Northwest Territories 
should send at least‘as many as last.year,. - 
Regarding geese, the breeding ground surveys in Guanes and Labrador 
sample the majority of the Canada goose breeding ground which supply the 
Flyway. Although comparative production data are lacking from last year, the 
distributjon of broods observed during July leads to the belief that production 
was largely a failure in some rather sizeable areas, Since there was no 
evidence that renesting was underway, itis anticipated that in spite of the 
increased breeding population there will not be an increased number of Canada q 
geese in the flight this fall. : 
Over-all, itis estimated that the fall flight of both Dabblers and Divers 
will be somewhat greater than last year in the Atlantic Flyway. Itis estimated 
that the numbers of Canada geese will remain about the same. 66034. 64 
