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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 
James A. Lee 
Intreduction 
The waterfowl breeding ground survey forms a part of a three phase popula- 
tion inventory now being carried on annually by the New Hampshire Fish and Game 
Department: The data derived from this survey are useful in the formulation of 
hunting regulations and future management projects. It provides the State Fish 
and Game Department with annual information on breeding success, extension or 
shifting of ranges of various resident species and the use of different type habitats 
by the nesting species. 
Methods of Sampling and Area Covered 
The waterfowl population survey succeeds the waterfowl habitat survey, 
carried on in the years 1945 - 1948 inclusive, a project designed to evaluate and 
inventory the waterfowl habitat in the State. Upon the completion of the habitat 
survey, it became evident that more accurate information on the status of the many 
species of waterfowl that occur in New Hampshire, either as migrants or residents, 
was desirable. Accordingly, the waterfowl population survey was organized in the 
spring of 1949 and the breeding ground survey as a major part of it the following 
summer. 
In 1952 the breeding ground survey was continued. The major share of the 
field work was conducted by the writer aided by Mr. Peter Brezosky, a student 
assistant. This work was carried on intensively through the months of June, July 
and August. Cver 100 different waterways were visited, including most of those 
surveyed in 1951, as well as a few new areas. Conservation Officer Fred Scott 
covered the more important areas in the Pittsburg region for the third straight 
year. Other members of the Fish and Game Department contributed reports of 
broods they had observed in the course of their own field work. 
Methods used in the 1952 survey were similar to those of the previous years. 
Emphasis was placed on the location of broods rather than on breeding pairs or 
nests, On the basis of previous surveys, representative water areas were selected 
for survey in all regions of the State and most of these were visited only once in 
order that as many of the areas as possible could be checked. As it seemed 
desirable not only to determine breeding trends from year to year but also the fate 
of broods during the current season, a number of areas were visited twice to 
provide these data. A few new areas were investigated as to their productivity and 
suitability as representative types of habitat to sample. It is known that the 
majority of waterfowl produced in New Hampshire come from the numerous small 
areas such as beaver ponds, oxbow ponds, marshy coves in lakes and ponds, 
meadow marshes, major streams,etc., where from one to several broods are 
raised. Large, extensive waterfowl producing marshes are few and atypical, and 
do not constitute in themselves an accurate sample of breeding conditions throughout 
the State. Also, these better areas with their extensive cover introduce a higher 
percentage of error into the survey than those more easily inventoried. 
