Weather and Water Conditions 
There appear to be but two major environmental variables that can be 
consistently measured annually at the start of the Alaskan waterfowl breeding 
season, One is the date of spring breakup throughout the Territory, with its 
associated impression of "late'' or "'early"' spring. The other is the relative volume 
of spring run-off waters, which often reach major flood proportions in some areas. 
The degree of correlation between either of these factors and the subsequent success 
of waterfowl production is still unknown. 
This year, spring was "late''in southern Alaska, but "early" in northwestern 
Alaska. No unusually high water was reported anywhere, and. much of the Interior 
began the summer with water levels below normal. This was particularly true of 
those lakes and ponds in the Fort Yukon Flats and Minto Flats that are not connected to 
the main river drainages, These waters apparently depend on periodic floods to fill 
them to capacity. Water shortage did not adversely affect production anywhere. 
Breeding Population Indices 
Where comparisons of the data from 1954 surveys can be made with previous 
years data, no significant changes in waterfowl numbers are noted. Statistically, 
the "sampling error" was within acceptable limits, and this years' sampling can be 
considered a success from this standpoint. Whether or not the survey accurately 
reflects total waterfowl populations, composition and distribution is another question 
which will require continued lengthy examination. Waterfowl densities, both breed- 
ing pairs and broods, reported by air counts have been inconsistent with ground 
counts to a degree unexplained by errors in either method. Species composition, 
Table VII, as reported from aerial counts by competent biologists is so variable as 
to render the data of little value in reflecting changes in species composition of the 
population. 
Production [Indices 
The average clutch size (Table III) at Minto Lakes was less in 1954 than in 
previous years, except for scaup which had larger clutches. At Fort Yukon all 
species had smaller clutches than in previous years. Heavy rains at Minto Flats in 
late July brought about flooding and destroyed late nesting and renesting diving ducks. 
Nesting success, Table VIII, was less at Fort Yukon this year than in 1953 and 
at Minto Lakes the success was greater. The factor of nesting success is not 
properly measured since disturbance by man induces predation and abandonment and 
consequently observations are biased. 
There was a significant decrease in the size of brant broods and a significant 
increase in cackling goose broods (Table IV), The size of broods of other geese were 
near normal. Duck broods were generally smaller than in previous years (Table V) 
in all areas where information is available. Significant reductions in size are noted 
in the Fort Yukon and Minto Lakes area, however, the decrease in the latter area 
is offset by an increase in the number of broods. Pintail broods, based on an 
adequate number of observations were smaller than in previous years. 
