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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO 
George M. Stirrett 
Introduction 

A survey of waterfowl breeding grounds in southern Ontario was carried 
out during the summer of 1952 to measure the current status of waterfowl in the 
area and to add to the knowledge of yearly population trends and breeding success. 
This report gives the results of three independent surveys undertaken by 
the author and by Messrs. H. G. Lumsden and N. D. Patrick of the Fish and 
Wildlife Division, Ontario Department of Lands and Forests. These men have 
kindly furnished the author with a copy of their respective reports for use in the 
present compilation. 
The author examined 39 separate water areas, one or more times, in 
that portion of Ontario lying south of a line drawn from Sault Ste. Marie in the 
west to Sudbury, Timagami, Arnprior and Cornwall in the east. This was the 
Same area reported upon last year. This survey was made between May 20 and 
July 15. In carrying out this work approximately 5,500 miles were travelled by 
car, 148 by boat, and 45 miles on foot. 
Mr. Lumsden examined 16 areas in the Quinte district of southern Ontario 
between July 7 and 22, and Mr. Patrick examined 3 habitats during May in the 
Rideau district of southeastern Ontario. Both the Quinte and Rideau districts are 
within the larger southern portion of Ontario examined by the author, but there was 
no overlap in the examination in the water areas by each observer. A total of 58 
habitats were examined. 
The spot method of sampling was employed by each observer. Mr. Patrick 
and the author made their observations by canoe, car or on foot or a combination of 
these methods of transportation, and Mr. Lumsden carried out both a ground and 
aerial survey in his district. The techniques employed were similar to those used 
in previous years. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
In general the season was warmer and drier than for the past few years. 
No drought areas were experienced as precipitation was evenly distributed through- 
out the spring and summer. All inland marshes, lakes and ponds were well supplied 
with water. The water in the Great Lakes and a large number of marshes directly 
connected with them was extremely high. Nesting and brood raising conditions 
throughout the area appeared to be ideal. It is not known whether or not the 
extremely high water in the Great Lakes and adjacent marshes had an adverse 
affect on waterfowl] in those areas. 
