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The methods used in the brood survey are as follows: each area as it is 
surveyed is covered in its entirety. Actual survey may be one of several methods 
or a combination. A number of the areas are adjacent to the road and can be 
covered from a car, especially with the aid of a window mounted telescope. More 
often it is necessary to seek out high vantage points around the area and cover it 
with binoculars or telescope. Many times it is necessary to climb a tree in order 
to view the area properly. A canoe is used only when the other methods are not 
feasible or after the other methods have been used and a further check is desired. 
As a canoe disturbs the ducks it is usually not possible to get a complete count of 
ducklings in a brood. All data are entered on mimeographed forms immediately 
after an area has been surveyed. Broods are tallied as being incomplete, complete, 
probable or possible, on the basis of the observations. 
Data Collected - In collecting and tabulating the data, a classification of the State 
by natural divisions has beenused. A map showing the divisions is included. 
(See Map 1). Representative areas in each division were censused for broods. 
The data consists largely of the number of broods and potential broods observed in 
each of the divisions. These figures are shown in Table I and include totals for 
1951 for areas visited both years. Under broods are included the number of actual 
broods observed, the number of broods not seen but accounted for by the actions of 
maternal females and the number of probable broods as indicated by groups of 
immature ducks. Under potential broods are all surplus females which may have 
been breeding birds. The figures on potential broods are included simply because 
they may present a better measurement of production than is indicated by the total 
of reasonably sure broods. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
The spring of 1952 was characterized by cold, rainy weather. April saw 
many migrants staying later than usual in resting areas, especially in the southern 
half of the State. Snow and ice lingered until late April in the northern region of 
the State. Heavy rains in late May resulted in near flood conditions in many sections 
of the State. Field observations conducted at this time revealed abandoned nests, 
even by wood duck in boxes where the high water had partially submerged them. 
Aquatic and marsh vegetation was retarded and observation of the areas in 
June was therefore, especially good. 
Breeding Population Trends 
Examination of the figures in Table I reveals some interesting changes in 
brood production from the preceding year. Counting the combined totals of the 
broods and the potential broods, the variation for the grand total is about 13 percent. 
The variations in the cases of the black duck and wood duck are 11.3 percent 
and 27.5 percent respectively. 
The latter two percentages suggest a slight increase and a marked decrease 
respectively. The sampling methods as carried on during the past three years 
have proved to be accurate enough to show what they were intended to show: namely, 
the approximate relative abundance of the different species and any major trends that 
might occur. The slight increase in black duck broods (11.3 percent) may be the 
