WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY OF REDVERS AREA, SASKATCHEWAN 
Jerome H. Stoudt 
The Redvers study area was established for the purpose of determining: 
(1) waterfowl production per breeding pair in the aspen parkland habitat type; (2) 
the effect of changes in water levels, predation, presence or absence of aquatic 
vegetation, agricultural operations and other factors upon that production; and (3) 
the actual number of breeding pairs and broods per square mile on the area in order 
to compare with aerial surveys over the same area, 
Description of the Area 
The Redvers study area is located in the extreme southeastern end of the 
aspen parklands area (see Map 1). This parkland prairie is an aspen grove area 
and consists of black soil of grassland formation. Most of the aspen groves, locally 
known as "bluffs", consist of pure stands of quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, 
although in the wetter locations the balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera, occurs 
quite commonly. Snowberry, Symphoricarpos, and several species of willows, 
Salix spp. are the most abundant shrubs, with the latter occurring in and around 
the shoreline of the numerous ponds in the area. 
The study area is in a zone of mixed farming including small grain, live- 
stock production and dairying. Small grains that are grown include wheat, oats 
and barley. Fields vary in size from a few acres up to a square mile. The soils. 
are shallow black types, although the cultivated fields have a dark gray to light 
grayish color, due to the calcareous nature of the soil. 
Three species of ground squirrels are the most abundant animals on the 
area with the destructive Franklin's ground squirrel very common. Skunks, mink, 
and muskrat were common with a few badger, coyote and fox also in the area. Other 
than ducks, crows were by far the most abundant bird, while magpies were fairly 
common, 
The study area was laid out along a gravel road 20 miles west of Manor 
and 20 miles north of Redvers, Saskatchewan. A strip 1/8th mile wide on one side 
of the road was chosen in order to eliminate any "roll-up" of pairs by enabling the 
census taker to "watch-down'" all breeding pairs which had been flushed. All water 
areas were paced-out and mapped, using a scale of | inch to equal one square chain 
(.1 acre). Map 1 shows the location of the transect. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
After an unseasonably warm April, the month of May continued to be quite 
warm anddry. Dry moderate weather continued until June 20, when the first 
appreciable rain fell. After that date frequent rains helped to retard water area 
shrinkage. No frosts or prolonged wet and cold periods occurred during the nesting 
season. Everything considered, conditions during the nesting season were thought 
to be excellent. 
