237 
From the foregoing data it is apparent that there was a considerable 
decrease in waterfowl from both the 1939-40 data and from that of 1951. However, 
in a preliminary report, Agent Sjostrom indicated that while there may have been 
less waterfowl in 1952 that the decrease did not seem to be as great as the data 
indicated. In examining the data by areas in the foregoing table it is noted that 
the two areas which showed the main decrease in 1952 were Bowstring Lake and 
Third River. During most of the previous years these two areas were considered 
to be key areas which indicated quite accurately the trend of the Chippewa duck 
population each year. Inasmuch as these two areas contained the heaviest growth 
of aquatic cover and are the most difficult to census it is very possible that some 
ducks were missed on these areas in 1952 due to the fact that no dog was used to 
assist in the census and that three of the observers were inexperienced in the 
application of the census technique. None of the men taking the census in 1952 had 
worked the Bowstring area during the 1951 census. 
Species Composition 
The species composition in 1952 was quite similar to that in 1951 with the 
exception of the goldeneye which decreased to some extent. Inasmuch as these 
birds frequent the open water and are easily censused, the decrease was very 
likely an actual one. The following table compares species composition for the 
11 areas in which the census was taken. 
Species Composition in Percent - 1937-1952 
Wood Ring- All 
Year Mallard Baldpate Goldeneye B-w. Teal Duck neck Others 
1937 32 5 20 22 = 13 8 
1938 49 3 10 23 - 9 6 
1939 45 4 15 28 - 5 3 
1940 44 7 15 21 - 10 3 
1941 47 12 11 14 - 4 6 
1947 49 15 19 7 - 5 6 
1948 52 17 13 10 - 8 3 
1949 44 24 19 6 - 4 3 
1950 43 30 17 4 - 4 2 
1951 46 27 17 4 3 2 1 
1952 48 27 12 4 1 2 - 
The baldpate did not show an increase in species composition in 1952 but 
neither did it show a decrease and apparently is holding its own on the area. Blue- 
winged teal and ring-necked ducks maintained their low place in the population which 
they have done since the few years following the drought of the thirties. 
Figure | illustrates population trends on a per mile shore basis. 
Success of the Season 
Brood averages for the mallard duck are compared in the following table for 
each year that the census was conducted. 
