£604 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN CONNECTICUT 
M. S. Belden 
Introduction 
Waterfowl breeding ground surveys were initiated in Connecticut during the 
spring of 1946 as a portion of the State's Pittman-Robertson project on the 
Estimation of Wildlife Populations. Basic work for these surveys was carried 
out during 1946 and 1947. Procedures and areas were modified and by 1948 the 
ground survey pattern was fairly well standardized. Chief emphasis has been 
placed on the brood or summer population survey as a means of determining 
waterfowl production trends. Data was collected until 1951 by ground coverage 
of selected areas. State-wide aerial transects were initiated in that year to 
supplement the ground information. 
Ground counts have been conducted by R. S. Billard and the author, covering 
from 35 to 40 selected waterfowl areas. The size of these areas varies from 2 to 
48 acres. Areas have been added from time to time during the course of the survey 
in an effort to round out the coverage. 
The 1,288 miles of aerial transect lines which cross the State, have been 
flown by R. S. Billard since their inauguration in 1951, 
Methods of Sampling 
Ground Coverage 
Two observers using two cars and a canoe cover as completely as possible 
selected waterfowl breeding areas. These include samples of the chief types of 
waterfowl breeding habitat within the State. Lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, 
upland and tidal marshes are represented. 
Data is secured from observations made during June and July from one or a 
combination of the three following means: 
1. Canoe or boat - Coverage of the area by water. 
2. Car - Coverage of the area by the use of field glasses from a car 
parked along the shore over-looking a waterfowl breeding area. 
3. Walking - Coverage by observation of an area by walking along the 
shore, or by using field glasses from selected points along the 
shore. 
Aerial Coverage 
The State, tor the purpose of aerial brood counts, has been sub-divided into 
three major regions based primarily on cover differences. They are the following: 
1. Northern Hardwood 
2. Oak Chestnut 
3. Tidal Marshes 
