99 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEYS OF DUCKS UNLIMITED (CANADA) 
IN ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN, AND MANITOBA 
1952 
William G. Leitch 
This report deals only with the ground transect work carried out by 
Ducks Unlimited and the data obtained from two study areas in Alberta, and two 
in Saskatchewan. The study areas covered and the men who conducted the surveys 
are as follows: 
Suffield - Jenner Area, Alberta - Fred Sharp and William G. Leitch 
Strathmore - Calgary Area, Alberta - George Freeman and William G. Leitch 
Caron Pothole Area, Saskatchewan - William G. Leitch 
Southey Area - Saskatchewan - R. T. Sterling 
Information obtained from Keeman cooperators and the annual survey of northern 
areas has been published in the "Duckological,'' which is issued monthly during the 
waterfowl season. 
Transects, using standard techniques, were run in May to establish the 
number of breeding pairs present. The same transects were rerun about July 15 
to obtain information on water conditions. 
Breeding Population Trends 
Results of Transects 
Alberta 
Area - Calgary South (Western Short Grass Prairies ) 
(Via: Strathmore, Mossleigh, Macleod, Pincher Creek, Waterton, 
Cardston, Macleod, Kepp, Vulcan, Milo, Grants, Hussar.) 
1951 1952 
Size of sample - square miles 43 40. 
Breeding pairs per square mile - May " 18.2 22.8 
Ponds per square mile - May 4.9 6.6 
Ponds per square mile estimated to last 
all season on July 15 3.3 at 
Area - Calgary North (Western Short Grass Prairies) 
(Via: Hussar, Morrin Watt, Endiang, Ranching, Big Valley, 
Stettler, Delburne, Innisfail, Olds, Sundre, Radnor, Calgary.) 
Size of sample - square miles 40 39 
Breeding pairs per square mile - May 15,1 20.7 
Number of water areas per sq. mile - May 7.8 10.8 
Number of water areas expected to last all 
season on July 15 - square miles 6.1 3.5 
