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The average size of duck'broods, two-thirds or:‘more grown, in 1952 was 
6.5 young, the same as in 1951. A-summary of brood sizes of all species is 
contained in Table II. 
Table II - Average Brood Size of Ducks in Central Washington - 1952 
a 
Class I Class II Class III 
No. Average No. Average No. Average 
Species Broods’ Size Broods’ Size Broods Size 
Mallard 48 7.6 22 7.0 63 6.4 
Gadwall 1 6.0 2 5.5 1 5.0 
Pintail - - - - 1 5.0 
Baldpate - - - - 1 8.0 
G-w. teal - - : 1 11.0 4 6.7 
B-w. & cinn. teal 5 5.6 6 5.1 7 6.5 
Shoveler - - 1 3.0 4 6.7 
Wood duck 2 6.0 - - 4 5.7 
Redhead 3 3.7 3 7.0 8 6.0 
Ring-necked duck - - 3 6.0 3 8.7 
Lesser scaup - - - - 1 10,0 
Barrow's goldeneye - - 2 6.0 6 6.3 
Harlequin - - 1 4.0 - - 
Ruddy duck 7 6.5 7 5.1 2 7.0 
Merganser 5 5.0 3 5.0 - - 
Total 71 6.5 51 6.0 105 6.5 
Western Washington 
Counts of broods and territorial pairs of ducks in western Washington 
indicates approximately a 25 percent increase in mallard production and a 45 percent 
decrease in wood duck production. The total production index for all species is 
11 percent below that of 1951. Brood sizes by age classes averaged 6.4 for all 
Species. 
Breeding Trends State-wide 
In order to present a uniform production trend for the entire State, the 
following brood size table is a compilation of all brood counts. 
Again during 1952 there was no gross fluctuation in average brood size by 
age classification. The average brood size of Class II11 mallards, which are the 
most abundant breeder in the State was 6.2. This compares very favorably with 
brood sizes observed during the past 5 years. 
From the findings of waterfowl biologists working throughout the State, an 
estimate of total waterfowl production is made. Table IV is a summary of waterfowl 
production during the last 3 years. 
