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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN NORTHERN ALBERTA, THE 
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AND THE YUKON 
1954 
Robert H. Smith and Everett L. Sutton 
Introduction 

This report covers the seventh aerial survey of waterfowl breeding populations 
and the third survey of waterfowl production in the title area. 
Population surveys were begun in central Alberta at the southern edge of the 
Close Forest on May 28 and were concluded in the MacKenzie Delta on June 25. 
Production surveys were begun on July 10 and centinied through August 3, covering 
the same areas as in the population survey. 
During the population survey we were assisted by Dr. Gustav A. Swanson of 
Cornell University and during a portion of the production survey by Mr. John A. Biggs, 
Director of the Washington Department of Game. 
Survey Methods 
In general, work began at the southern edge of the area and progressed north 
as the country opened up; the same procedure being followed during the production 
survey, following up brood emergence. Transect widths were 1/4 mile in the initial 
surveys and 1/8 mile in the latter, data being recorded on all waterfowl observed 
(with the exception of scoters, eiders, old squaws and mergansers) by species as to 
pairs, single birds, groups and broods, with the broods being further broken down 
as to age class and the number of ducklings per brood. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
1954 was one of the latest seasons on record - a cold backward spring witha 
late breakup. This may have had an adverse effect on the normal northward migra- 
tion of waterfowl, as certainly the early arrivals found only ice and snow. 
Flooding occured in the Athabaska, Lake Claire marshes resulting in consid- 
erable nest losses. Elsewhere water conditions were normal or even improved over 
1953. Specific areas of improvement were the Slave River Parklands and the area of 
Close Forest north of Great Slave Lake. 
Following the late spring, the summer was warm and bright. There were no 
storms of severe enough proportions to affect nesting waterfowl. 
