84 
The fact that a brood of black ducks was seen in the vicinity of Fort Chimo the 
latter part of June is probably a good indication that the season was early in the 
northern areas. Broods of Canada geese were commonly seen east of Port 
Harrison about July 1. Apparently the waterfowl which breed in the far northern 
part of Quebec arrive and commence nesting well before the ice is out of the major 
lakes in the region. 
Breeding Population Trends 
Since the aerial survey of the spring breeding population in the Maritimes 
was limited primarily to Prince Edward Island last year, the principal data 
available on comparable areas are from limited ground checks in the three 
Provinces. 
Considering the three Provinces as a unit the results obtained from ground 
coverage are as follows: 
Species 1951 1952 Percent Change 
Black duck 379 430 + 13 
Blue-winged teal 80 86 + 7 
Green-winged teal 104 54 - 48 
Pintail 65 27 - 
Ring-necked duck 61 125 +105 
Goldeneye 20 12 - 
Unidentified 5 42 - 
Total 714 776 + 9 
The aerial survey of Prince Edward Island, considering comparable 
areas only, shows as follows: (Game Ducks Only) 

Species 1951 1952 Percent Change 
Black duck 1,004 1,181 + 17 
Blue -winged teal 17 4 - 
Green-winged teal 4 48 - 
Pintail 2 4 - 
Ring-necked duck 38 77 +102 
Goldeneye 185 230 + 24 
Unidentified 1 7 - 
Total 1,251 1,551 + 24 
These data indicate that the status of the over-all population is as good or 
a little improved over that of the spring population last year. Due to the small size 
of the samples involved, the percentages piven should not be taken at face value, but 
only as an indication of the trend. 
The bulk of the aerial data obtained this year on breeding populations in 
eastern Canada represents explorations into country not surveyed last year and for 
which we have no comparable population figures from the past. The data obtained 
are interesting in that they indicate relative populations between regions. 
