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WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AND BEHAVIOR STUDY IN THE MINNEDOSA 
POTHOLE DISTRICT OF MANITOBA 
Alex Dzubin 
This report deals with an intensive study of waterfowl production and 
behavior on a pothole breeding area in central Manitoba. The project was 
primarily concerned with an investigation of the daily and seasonal activities of 
breeding birds and their broods. An endeavor was also made to determine the 
influences of agricultural practices upon waterfowl] production. 
A parallel study was carried on to investigate water loss in potholes 
through evaporation, since changing water levels greatly influence type, size, 
and surrounding characteristics of water areas, 
Study Area 
The study area was the same as that chosen by Evans in 1949; (In Breeding 
Conditions, Summer 1949, by W. F. Crissey et al, Special Scientific Report: 
Wildlife No. 2) (See Map), a typical block of pothole farming land having a total 
area of 1 and 1/2 sections. The area itself was situated in District 8 (Newdale - 
Erickson) and was bounded on two sides by Kiel's Transect No. II. Within the. 
study plot were included 146 water areas, 45 of which were permanent, 42 semi- 
permanent and 59 of a temporary nature. The dominant vegetation of these potholes 
varied, depending to a great extent on previous water levels and land use. Whitetop, 
Fluminea festuscea, Sedge, Carex Spp., Cattail, Typha latifolia, and Bulrush 
Scirpus acutus, were the main dominants. 
The project was initiated on May 8, and continued through the summer 
until the latter part of August. It is hoped to continue the study for several more 
summers. 
Acknowledgment is made to the following people for assistance given 
through the course of the project: H. A. Hochbaum, William Kiel, Arthur Hawkins, 
Wesley Newcomb and innumerable others. Also to Mr. Stan Kolt of the University 
of Manitoba for his part in gathering water level data. Further acknowledgment is 
made to the North American Wildlife Institute, who sponsored the project; National 
Research Council, for summer equipment and the Manitoba Game and Fisheries 
Branch for living quarters. 
Methods 
The entire success of the project hinged on marking a sufficient number 
of birds in order that they could be followed through the breeding season. Hens 
were nest trapped and marked with aeroplane dope, colored leg bands and plastic 
neck bands. An attempt was made to capture drakes but this met with little success. 
However, two were trapped by first placing a nest-trapped female inside a small 
wire cage which was lowered into a clover-leaf bait trap. This phase of the work 
was not pursued further, but it is hoped that a refinement of the method might well 
be used to capture breeding drakes. Certain unmarked individuals wrth peculiar 
plumage patterns were followed in order to determine the range of pairs. 
