Z29 
Table I - Water Areas on Aerial Transects, May and July, 1952 
a 
Total Ponds 
St Ponds per Size of Strata Est. Total Percent Change 
rata a , 
Seen Sq. Mile Square Miles Ponds May to July 
A-May 4,378 18.18 22,088 401,560 ak We 
-July 3,222 13.38 22,088 295,537 al 
B-May 3,782 21.69 26, 100 566, 109 28.45 
-July 2, 642 15.15 26, 100 395,415 iis 
Cc - May 694 8.40 16,112 135, 341 | 46,6 
- July 621 7.52 16,112 121, 162 ; 
Province 
- May “ 17,15 64, 300 1,103,010 — 
- July 2 12. 63 64, 300 812,114 a 

Breeding Population Trends - Aerial Data 
For the second year in succession, a very appreciable increase in the 
breeding population of waterfowl has been recorded on our aerial transects in 
Alberta. The approximate 50 percent increase of the 1951 populations over those 
of 1950 was actually a return to more normal conditions following a 2-year period 
of severe drought and low population densities. A 21.4 percent increase in 1952 
over 1951 represents a far more significant figure. 
Table II - Aerial Waterfowl Population Data 
Survey Sample Total Ducks Population Percent 
Strata Area Area Ducks per Index Change 
Sq. Mi. Sq. Mile Seen Sq. Mi. 1951 to 1952 
A-1951 22,088 516.0 12,115 23.47 518,405. i 
-1952 22,088 481.4 13,316 27.45 606, 316 + 16.9 
B-1951 26,100 236.6 3, 706 15.66 408, 726 + 12.1 
- 1952 26,100 348.6 6,124 17.56 458, 316 ier 
Cc -1951 16,112 228.2 2,382 10.43 168, 048 + 57.5 
- 1952 16,112 165.2 2,714 16.43 264, 720 : 
Province 
- 1951 64,300 - . 17.03 1,095,179 + 21.4 
- 1952 64, 300 a J 20.67 1, 329, 352 ‘ 

In former years population indices for Alberta have always been computed 
on the basis of birds actually observed. In order to arrive at a closer approximation 
of the true population, the indicated figure will be used in the future for comparisons. 
This figure is obtained by crediting each lone male seen on a transect with a female. 
(See Table 3.) 
