234 
Therefore, 520 pairs of ducks produced 216 broods, totalling 1,426 young. 
Indicated known minimum duck production in Wisconsin during 1952 was 2.74 young 
per adult breeding pair, as compared with 1.55 young per adult breeding pair in 
1951. 
The average brood size for all ducks was practically the same during the last 
two years, being 6.5 in 1951 and 6.6 in 1952 (Table v). 
Records of free-flying Canada geese breeding in Wisconsin were again scarce. 
Confirmed reports of goslings having been produced were received from the Necedah 
National Wildlife Refuge, the Sprague-Mather Refuge, and the central Wisconsin 
Conservation Area (ali in Juneau County) the Wisconsin River (Adams County), the 
Swamico Game Sanctuary and the Bay Beach Sanctuary (both in Brown County), the 
Wood County public hunting ground, and the Horicon Marsh (Dodge County). Adult 
Canada geese were also reported in Marinette, LaCrosse, Jefferson, Walworth, 
Fond du Lac, and Oconto Counties. At this date, it is not known if any of these 
birds bred successfully. 
Summary 
The spring waterfowl migration arrived in Wisconsin on schedule, but departed 
from the State earlier than usual due to the midsummer weather which prevailed 
during the last half of April. Temporary water areas were definitely scarce in most 
regions of the State during this unusually warm period. 
Of 328 water sites censused during these surveys, 87 percent showed no change 
or more water during the second and third coverages, as compared with the first 
coverage. Periodic rains of near cloud burst magnitude fell between July 10-20, 
restoring early spring temporary water conditions. It is believed these heavy rains 
caused only small, if any, waterfowl brood losses. The peak of the duck hatch 
occurred prior to July 10. 
The waterfowl breeding phenology was advanced about seven days over 1951 
due-to the early warm April weather. Most duck broods were observed between 
June 10 and July 10, with the majority being of Class II and Class III age. 
Minimum known duck production in Wisconsin during 1952 constituted 2.74 
young per breeding pair, as compared with 1.55 young per breeding pair found in 
1951. Summering flocks of non-breeding female ducks were not encountered this 
year. 
Complete brood counts were obtained. in 171 duck broods, giving an average 
of 6.6 young per brood. In 1951 the average brood size was 6.5 and in 1950 6.1. 
On the basis of having observed very few non-breeding female ducks on these 
Surveys, that the number of breeding pairs tallied per censused acre indicated an 
18 percent increase, that the number of young observed per breeding pair showed a 
77 percent gain, and that the average brood size was about the same as last year, 
it is concluded that the 1952 Wisconsin waterfowl production trend was upward, 
compared with 1951. 
