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resulted in the loss of a few late nesters. In the irrigated sections water was 
admitted to canals earlier in 1952 and this factor accounted for a more successful 
brood production on irrigated lands. In western Washington the spring and summer 
was fairly normal with respect to both temperature and precipitation. The spring 
runoff was gradual and nest destruction due to flooding was at a minimum. 
Breeding Population Trends by Regions 
Eastern Washington 
Of the 10 major species of ducks breeding in eastern Washington, mallards, 
pintails, baldpates, gadwalls, scaup and ruddy ducks increased considerably in 
abundance. Blue-winged, cinnamon, and green-winged teal, shovelers and redheads 
decreased proportionately. Canada geese increased and coots lost a little from the 
rapid gains of the past few years. The over-all losses of some species almost off- 
set the gains made by others so that the final total production for all species was 
computed to be about 5 percent above the production in 1951. In addition to the 10 
species of ducks listed above, Barrow's goldeneye, canvasback, wood ducks, ring- 
necked ducks, and mergansers breed in very limited numbers. Collectively, they 
constitute about 1 percent of the total waterfowl produced in the area. Pintails 
made the most notable gain, about 45 percent above their 1951 population. Gadwalls 
increased 20 percent, mallards 15 percent, baldpate and scaup 10 percent each, 
and ruddy ducks made a slight gain. 
The greatest loss, about 50 percent, was sustained by green-winged teal. 
Shovelers followed with a 35 percent loss, and the blue-winged and cinnamon teal 
group was down 30 percent. Based upon a ratio of male teal in breeding plumage, 
the loss was almost entirely among blue-winged teal. Redheads continued their 
downward trend of the past 4 years, dropping about 5 percent below their 1951 
population. 
In some species the average brood size for Class III broods was lower 
than in 1951, but only the pintail averaged less than 5 young per brood. Blue-winged 
and cinnamon teal averaged over 7 young per brood. Mallard, baldpate, gadwall, 
redhead and goldeneye averaged more than 6 per Class III brood. A total of 270 
Class III broods averaged 5.96 young per brood. Table I lists the brood size by . 
age class. On the transects intensively surveyed for broods in July the waterfowl 
usage has been computed. The Okanogan tounty transect of 38 linear miles 
averaged 20.4 broods per square mile exclusive of coots. A series of transects 
in Douglas and Grant Counties totalling 102 miles averaged 15.8 broods per square 
mile. Production on most of the other transects appeared to be comparable to the 
areas in Douglas and Grant Counties. The timbered regions of Spokane and the 
other northeastern Counties do not have as high a density of waterfowl per square 
mile, but the entire area is of much greater size so that the final total production 
is considerable in comparison. 
