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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN THE DAKOTAS 
Jerome H. Stoudt 
SOUTH DAKOTA 
Introduction 
A waterfowl. breeding ground survey was conducted in South Dakota for the 
fifth consecutive year. Breeding pair transects were run by U. S. Game Management 
Agents Everett Sutton and Roe Meyer. Brood counts were run by Agents Harry Jensen, 
Roe Meyer and Fred Jacobson on July 20 and again on August 4 by J. H. Stoudt. Due 
to assignments in Canada, personnel was not available to carry on intensive ground 
work to measure nesting success, breeding pair success or effects of weather and 
water conditions on the breeding population. 
Area Covered 
Transects covered were exactly the same in 1951 and using the same technique. 
Brood counts were made from sun-up until 8 a.m. and 5 or 6 p.m. until dark, 
depending on wind and weather conditions. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
In the main breeding ground of South Dakota, which covers a large area east 
of the Missouri River, there was an abundant snowfall during the winter of 1951-52. 
This was especially true in the Leola Hills, northern James River Valley and on 
eastward into the Waubay Hills, so that there was an abundance of water over most of 
the waterfowl breeding range when the ducks returned from the South. Due to the 
abundance of water in the James River Valley which is quite flat, many more pintails 
stayed to nest in South Dakota than is usually the rule. 
The months of April and May were abnormally warm and although very little 
rain fell during the breeding season the hills areas still had plenty of water at the time 
the broods came off and were developing. The temporary pools on the James River . 
Valley dried up fast and as usual a big build-up occurred in the Hills areas after a 
large percentage of first nesting attempts were destroyed. This high loss to first 
nesting attempts, especially of the pintails and mallards, is normal and occurs 
almost every year. Both agriculture and heavy predation coimbine to effect this loss 
to early nesting species. 
At the present date of writing (September 15) the Hills area of South Dakota is 
dryer than it has been for years with many so called semi-permanent or Class C (Bach) 
water areas completely dry. 
Breeding Population Trends 
As stated above, the breeding pair census was accomplished by Game Agents 
Sutton and Meyer. Following is a table summarizing results of this survey. 
