33 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN SASKATCHEWAN 
J. B. Gollop, John J. Lynch and William Hyska 
This report covers the aerial work of the waterfowl breeding ground 
survey in that part of Saskatchewan lying south of 54° degrees N, and a summary 
of the achievements of the banding crew for 1952. Reports covering special 
ground study areas and the Saskatchewan River Delta are to be found elsewhere. 
The aerial work consisted of two phases as in the past -- a coverage in May to 
determine the breeding pair population and a coverage in July to determine 
production. 
In May, John J. Lynch, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with William 
Hyska, Provincial Game Branch as observer, flew 75 air-hours to cover 3, 800 
linear miles of transect ina Piper Cub, N 724. Joe Perroux and Arthur Hawkins 
also flew 20 hours, covering 1,200 miles in a Piper Cub, N 735, in Saskatchewan. 
In July, Lynch and Hyska were assisted by Edward Wellein, U. S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, and Dave Colls, Canadian Wildlife Service, in Grumman Widgeon 
N 728, in covering the same sample (cf. Map). 
The banding crew under Floyd Thompson, Game Management Agent, was 
composed of Kenard Baer and’ Don Krieble, Game Management Agents, U. S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Duncan Simmonds and Wayne Ferrie, Provincial Game 
Branch. Bob Caldwell, Ducks Unlimited, and Bernard Gollop, Canadian Wildlife 
Service also assisted. 
Methods 
This year, for the first time, Provincial waterfowl trends were measured 
solely by aerial survey methods; there was no ground survey as in past years to 
compare withit. Ground work instedd was concentrated on four study. areas for 
the purpose of getting ground-to-air comparisons in various types of habitat and 
for investigating special problems. Three aerial coverages were given each of 
these areas. 
The 4 strata (based on waterfowl densities) established last year were 
again the basis for aerial work in 1952. Stratum "C" and Stratum "D" (Saskatchewan 
River Delta, not marked on map) remained as in 1951 but some revision was made 
between Strata "A'' and 'B" and the north country. The only significant change 
involved the addition of about 2,500 square miles to Stratum "'A" at the expense of 
"B't, The 9 short north-south transect lines flown last year were dropped and only 
east-west lines were used. A more satisfactory distribution of the sample was also 
established (cf. map). 
As in the past, a 1/4-mile wide strip was used for the breeding pair 
survey and a 1/8-mile2 strip for brood survey. In addition to identifying a portion 
of the ducks seen and recording lone drakes, the air crew this year also attempted 
to identify broods. 
