19 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 
R. H. Mackay 
Introduction 
Ground and aerial surveys of waterfowl breeding areas, comparable to those 
made in previous years, were carried out in British Columbia in 1952. Robert H. 
Smith, assisted by the author, covered the upper Columbia Valley, Cariboo, 
Chilcotin and Prince George regions ina U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service aircraft. 
Aerial reconnaissance of waterfowl habitat in the region adjacent to Fort St. John, 
on the Queen Charlotte Islands and on the northern extremity of Vancouver Island 
was made in addition to the transects established in past years. Ground surveys 
in the upper Columbia Valley, Okanagan, Kamloops and Cariboo aveas were made 
by D. A. Munro and the author. Banding operations were carried out for the 
fifth consecutive year in the Chilcotin, Cariboo and Kamloops regions by a party 
employed by the British Columbia Game Commission. 
Methods 
Total counts of selected sample sloughs and lakes in the best areas of 
waterfowl productivity in the Province again constituted the ground survey, 
Comparative data obtained in this manner are now available over a period of 
6-years for the Cariboo, 5-years for the upper Columbia Valley, and 3-years for 
the Okanagan regions. 
An aerial survey of the Rocky Mountain Trench from Cranbrook north to 
Golden was carried out again this year. This area lends itself well to aerial survey 
as itis possible to make a total count by flying up one side of the valley and down 
the other. Comparable aerial counts for this region over a 3-year period are now 
available. 
Random transects in the Cariboo, Chilcotin, and Prince George areas were 
also surveyed for waterfowl from the air this spring. These areas, being restricted 
in size, fairly rough in topography, and with an uneven distribution of water do not 
lend themselves ideally to aerial sampling. Increased coverage would appear to be 
a solution for more accurate results in this type of habitat, if aerial transects are 
to be continued. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Weather and water conditions were not unusual in British Columbia this 
season. There were no prolonged hot spells in the spring, and this permitted a 
gradual run-off. Lakes and sloughs were well filled throughout the summer and 
conditions appeared favourable to breeding waterfowl. 
Breeding Population Trends 
The ground survey in the Cariboo Parklands was carried out from May 31 to 
June 3. The total number of ducks tallied was up slightly (2.7 percent). Mallards 
were more plentiful - almost twice as many were counted this year as compared to 
