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decrease in shovelers and blue -winged teal was noticeable at Freezout Lake. This 
was the second consecutive year that pintail have shown definite increases in this 
area. 
The Brown's Lake trend area in the mountainous region showed a large 
percentage increase for both mallards and blue-winged teal. It showed a decrease 
for scaup and baldpate. The major change in the Flathead trend area of the same 
region was a considerable increase in redheads (Table III). 
Weather and water conditions combined to make an ideal waterfowl 
production year. Even in the Sheridan Moraine area where both fewer waterfowl 
and fewer water areas were counted in the spring, production was equal to that of 
1951. For example, Refuge Manager Adams at Medicine Lake Refuge says 
"Throughout the summer there has been a shortage of refuge ducks in comparison 
with the 1951 figures, amounting to about 25 percent. . . Based on actual counts of 
broods of young birds, we feel that the total waterfowl production on the refuge is 
almost as great as last year." 
In the Freezout Lake area, average brood sizes of gadwall, pintail, 
mallard and lesser scaup were all above those of 1951. Pintails showed the 
greatest increase from 4,6 ducklings per brood in 1951 to 6.4 in 1952. The broods 
observed for other species in this area were insufficient to be conclusive. Other 
areas throughout the northern prairie area showed increases in brood size (Table IV). 
The average size of Class III broods in the eastern Montana trend areas 
for all species was 6.4 birds or 1.3 birds per brood larger than 1951. The average 
size was 4.0 birds per brood larger than the 1950 figure. 
Winston Banko, Refuge Manager at Red Rock Lakes, estimated a production 
increase of 15 percent over 1951, and indicated an unusual abundance of coot broods. 
The increased production of pintails was most notable throughout the 
northern prairie area of the State. There were definite percentage increases in the 
breeding population within this prairie area. In addition, all brood counts showed 
‘large increases in the average brood size of pintails (Table IV). 
Summary 
1. Weather conditions were considered to be ideal for nesting waterfowl. 
2. Water conditions were satisfactory. There was a considerable increase 
in numbers of water areas in the central and western portions of the glaciated region. 
Permanent type areas were full at the start of the season. However, temporary and 
intermediate type waters were scarce in the eastern glaciated prairie region. 
3. There was a 10.73 percent increase in the number of breeding birds 
observed in the northern Glaciated Prairie region. 
4. There was a 52 percent increase in the number of birds observed on 
the trend areas in the southern unglaciated prairie region. This is an area of low 
waterfowl density and consequently small variations in numbers will cause a large 
variation in percentage changes. 
