56 
Nesting Success 
One hundred and ninety-one nests were found, the locations of which are 
shown on the accompanying map. Nests were found while walking out the study 
area and also by intensive searching. Over 50 percent of the nests were found 
by a labrador dog. The dog became very proficient at finding both active and 
completed nests and after several weeks was actually pointing hens on the nests. 
During the middle of one cool day in June she found 8 active nests in 80 minutes, 
over a fairly extensive cover range, 
Nest destruction of 98 nests was attributed to the following causes: Skunk, 
39; crows or magpies, 32; ground squirrels, 16; other animals, 4; agriculture, 2; 
undetermined, 5. In addition the extremely abundant crows took many eggs from 
layings in which there were only one or two eggs and not enough nest construction 
to be found. These egg shells were scattered under aspen groves throughout the 
area. The above data do not include any such losses. 
Table VII - Nest Data Summary - Redvers Study Area 

Total Total Percent 
Species Found Abandoned Remaining Destroyed Successful Success 
Mallard 133 5 128 67 61 47.6 
B-w. teal 31 ] 30 17 13 43.3 
Pintail 7 0 7 5 2 28.5 
Baldpate 5 0 5 3 2 40.0 
Lesser scaup 4- 0 4 2 2 50.0 
Gadwall 3 l 2 I 1 50.0 
G-w. teal 3 2 l 0 1 100.0 
Canvasback 3 0 3 2 1 33.3 
Ringneck 2 1 I l 0 - 
Total 191 10 181 98 83 45.8 
Predominant types of cover in which nests were found included: 
1. Snowberry patches in pastures, at the edges of cultivated fields or aspen 
groves and especially between roads and the adjacent fields, 
2. Unplowed areas, and old fields between or adjacent to water areas. Here 
the cover consisted of pure stands of wheat grass in some areas and in other areas 
a mixture of Canada thistle, sow thistle, dandelions, and other weeds and grasses. 
3. Grassy areas, usually with some Carex or other sedges, around the edges 
of potholes. 
4. Willow growths around the edges of dried-up water areas. 
Nesting success as indicated in the foregoing table was considered very good 
and its similarity to breeding pair - brood success suggests it to be an accurate 
method of measuring breeding success where the nesting density is heavy enough 
to make nest hunting profitable. 
