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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN WASHINGTON 
Raleigh Moreland 
Personnel taking part in the field work and preparing reports which are 
included in this survey are: Henry A. Hansen, Wendell H. Oliver, Robert G. 
Jeffrey and Donald S. Galbreath, Federal Aid Project Personnel. 
Introduction 
The 1952 waterfowl breeding ground survey represents the fifth consecu- 
tive year such a survey has been carried on in Washington. The State for the 
purpose of study has been roughly divided into 3 segments - western, central and 
eastern Washington, with waterfowl biologists being permanently assigned to each 
segment. All primary breeding grounds in each segment are included in the study. 
In eastern Washington breeding grounds consist of potholes and lakes which produce 
approximately 85 percent of the waterfowl in the State. Central Washington has 
2 types of waterfowl breeding ground habitat varying from natural ponds and lakes 
in the northern section to irrigation canals, drainage ditches, streams, rivers and 
flooded areas in the southern portion. The remaining waterfowl] breeding grounds 
are thinly distributed throughout western Washington. 
Method of Sampling 
During 1952, as before, breeding surveys consisted of measured ground 
transects through pothole and lake areas. A total count of water areas obtained 
from aerial photos and aerial counts provides a basis for computing the total 
population index for the State. A slightly different method of evaluation was applied 
to the irrigated lands of southcentral Washington. With the variety of habitat to 
census in an irrigation system it was necessary to survey entirely, representative 
blocks of this land. Generally, section lines within these areas of intense cultiva- 
tion are well defined and outline ideal working units of a mile square. Every ninth 
section was considered a sample section and complete assessment of breeding 
waterfowl within these sections was attempted. As may be expected, many of the 
designated sections were eliminated from breeding importance after a cursory 
examination of topography and land and water use. Other sections took considerable 
time to thoroughly assess. Breeding habitat outside the influence of irrigation in 
this region is mostly river and stream habitat with some small pothole clusters in 
isolated areas. To evaluate breeding in these, measured linear samples and 
transects were conducted in the manner of former investigations. The survey of 
waterfowl production in western Washington is divided into two parts: counts of 
pairs and single males on selected plots in northwestern Washington during the 
territorial season, and a brood trend census made in late June and early July on 
sample areas scattered throughout western Washington. The brood trend census 
is the basis for adjusting the estimate of total waterfowl production. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Throughout most of the major waterfowl production areas of eastern 
Washington, surface water conditions were favorable following the spring runoff 
which was slow and gradual. The spring and summer were excessively dry with 
normal temperatures. The consequent loss of some temporary ponds may have 
