At Minto Lakes, brood-size data were secured which was similar to 1951 
except that scaup broods were slightly smaller and baldpate slightly larger than 
the year before. . 
Table VI - Waterfowl Brood Sizes at Minto Lakes 

No. of Broods Brood Size 
Species 1951 1952 . 1951 1952 
Scaup 8 46 Tie E 6.6 
Canvasback 6 9 Riek 5.0 
Pintail 72 8 6.2 5.8 
Baldpate 7 8 7.0 &. 9 
Green-winged teal 9 7 7.2 7.7 
Shoveler 1] 7 7.4 Tits 
White -winged scoter 0 5 2 7.6 
Goldeneye 5 1 6.8 5.0 
Mallard 11 0 7.7 < 
Total 129 91 
Table VI does not indicate the species composition at Minto Lakes, an 
area chiefly important for scaup and pintail with lesser numbers of baldpate, 
shoveler, mallard and teal produced there. 
The Copper River Flats contain probably the highest concentration of 
western Canada geese in Alaska. The nesting area comprising approximately. 
200 square miles was occupied by an estimated 4,000 nesting geese and 2, 000 
non-breeders. Most nests are on high slough banks along the high driftwood line 
in vegetation consisting largely of wild iris, shooting star and salt prass overa 
general area extending from the coast to 10 miles inland. Situated on the open 
North Pacific coast the Copper River Flats resemble the Yukon Delta in that the 
potential exists for serious flood-destruction of nests. Fortunately the combination 
of circumstances for producing such nest destruction has not occurred in recent 
years. Other factors affecting waterfowl production are presently of minor 
importance, these include: gull predation, eagle predation and brown bear predation. 
Table VII - Waterfowl Brood Sizes at Copper River Flats 
Species No. of Broods Brood Size 
Western Canada geese l2 5.4 
Pintail 4 5.0 
Mallard 3 Bie 3 
Shoveler 1 5.0 
On the coastal goose grounds at Yukon Delta and at Copper River combined, 
broods of geese were the rule rather than the exception, thus in only a few instances 
was it possible to segregate individual broods. 
