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some of the broods were not seen or that nesting was a failure in many instances. 
Fifteen Class "A' broods totaled 90 young, giving an average brood size of 6. 
The 1951 average brood size for this area was 8. 
Area VIII - Forrest B. Lee, St. Paul - The area game biologist spent most of 
the month of May on the aerial breeding ground survey. However, subsequent to 
May 20, he drove the auto transects in Meeker and McLeod Counties. Water 
conditions were good along this route and a good number of breeding waterfowl 
was recorded. This year there were 4.5 water areas per square mile compared 
with 3,1 last year, Pairs per square mile were 3.04 compared with 1.46 last 
year. Ducks per square mile were 3.91 compared with 2,91 in 1951. A good 
normal population of breeding waterfowl was present this spring in Area VIII in 
slightly larger numbers than last year. Brood counts were made on Schillings 
and Washington Lakes, Sibley County; Grass Lake, McLeod County; Pelican Lake, 
Wright County; and the Carlos Avery Refuge. The average brood size was 7.1 
based on 35 Class "A" broods containing 249 young. The 1951 average brood size 
was 9.8 and for 1950 it was 7.2. Water and weather conditions were favorable 
this spring and a good breeding population was noted. The severe rainstorms of 
late June and early July probably inflicted some mortality on young ducks. This 
is reflected in the low average size of Class I broods, 5.5. Class II broods 
averaged 8.1 young per brood and Class II I broods averaged 5.7. In spite of any 
such loss, waterfowl production appeared to be high in Area VIII this year. 
Area IX - Robert I. Benson, Glenwood - Auto transects totaling 140 miles were 
run again this year. Some slight variations were necessary due to high water over 
roads. When all the transect data for Area IX are summarized, the number of water 
areas tallied per square mile was essentially the same as last year, 6.6 compared 
with 6.9. The percent of occupancy was considerably higher this year, 46.1 percent 
compared with 32 percent. The number of pairs per square mile was approximately 
the same, 3.43 compared with 3.34. However, the total number of ducks was larger 
this year, 8.29 compared with 6.37. The unpaired ducks on the transects were 
mostly redheads and ruddy ducks, some of which no doubt later paired up and 
established breeding territories. The preceding data would indicate a small increase 
in the breeding population of Area IX. A very definite increase was noted in the case 
of coots. This year 205 were tallied compared with 25 last spring. Brood counts 
were made on Lake Simon, Pope County; Ringo Lake, Kandiyohi County; and Gorder 
Lake, Stevens County. Counts were also made in the pothole study areas of Pope, 
Big Stone, and Swift Counties. Data were collected on 40 Class "A" broods totaling 
314 young. This gives an average brood size of 7.9 compared with 7.5 in 1951. 
Comparisons of last year's data with this year's counts on the three mentioned lakes 
and the Pope County pothole study area show similar counts. Twelve broods were 
observed on these areas this year compared with 11] in 1951. There was a decided 
increase in the breeding coot population and the hatch was very successful. The 
blue-winged teal was as usual the most common breeding duck in the area with 
numbers seeming to be about the same as last year. Redheads have increased. 
The ruddy duck population continues the climb of recent years. 
Area X - Gerald T. Bue, Marshall - A total of 243 miles of auto transect route 
was run inthis area. The transects were driven by LeRoy Angell, since the area 
biologist was engaged as an observer for the aerial survey. When total transects 
are considered, there were 1.5 water areas per square mile compared with 1, 3 
last year. These figures indicate little change in the number of water_areas. 
Occupancy was somewhat higher this year, 36.6 percent compared with 32.0 percent. 
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