57 
Brood Production 
Two brood counts were made by walking around each water area. The 
labrador dog was used on all areas and proved to the writer's satisfaction that 
the success of a brood survey in such country depends largely upon the use of a 
good dog. | 
In addition to the two regular brood counts in July a record of broods was 
kept during the breeding pair census in June but this was not a complete brood 
count as not all of the areas were walked around. 
The following tables illustrate the results of brood counts; 
Table VIII - Redvers Study Area - Brood Census 
BROODS SEEN Total * Total ** Total *** 
Species June 1-6 July 1-6 July 25-29 Production Production Production 
Mallard 43 92 95 — 122 136 138 
B-w. teal - 24 50 62 55 62 
Pintail 8 15 9 19 21 17 
Baldpate - 10 7 12 — 8 7 
G-w. teal - 4 12 14 11 12 
Canvasback 7 8 3 9 7 10 
Lesser scaup - 1 1 2 1 1 
Shoveler - 3a 5 6 6 5 
Gadwall - 1 1 2 1 1 
Ringneck _ - a | - 1 - - 
Total 58 259 183  . 249 246 253 
* Data in this column were arrived at by counting all broods observed on 
July 1-6 and by adding those seen during the period July 25-29 which were judged 
‘to have hatched after July 6. 
** Calculated by counting all broods seen on July 25-29 census and adding 
to them Class II and Class III broods from the July 1-6 census which were 
considered to have been able to fly by July 25. In this calculation as well as in 
the one above no flying broods were counted. ; 
x Calculated by adding Column | (June 1-6 data) to Column 3 (July 25-29 
data). | 
The three methods of determining brood production are included to illustrate 
the fact that regardless of method, the results are practically the same. 
It is extremely gratifying to note that the breeding pair-brood success of 
42.4 percent compares very closely to the 45.8 percent nesting success. For the 
mallard it was even closer, 46.2 percent and 47,6 percent respectively. It should 
not be amiss to assume that both figures come very close to the actual breeding _ 
success. . 
