20 
Summary 
Decreases were recorded in all areas with the exception of Old Crow, Slave 
River Parkland, and the Close Forest north to 63° 30', Possibly, the extremely 
late season was responsible, at least in part, for these decreases. Of those areas 
that had an increase in population the latter two had much better surfact water 
conditions than in 1953. The increase in the Old Crow Flats might possibly be 
explained by the fact that it lies in a sheltered basin completely surrounded by 
mountains, and as a consequence has a somewhat milder climate with an earlier 
break-up which would attract early migrants from the surrounding area. 
The over-all duck population decreased 13.9 percent. The changes in the 
individual species are as follows: 
Species Percent Species Percent 
Mallard - 5.4 Green-winged teal +144.2 
Pintail + 2.3 Blue -winged teal - 48.9 
Baldpate -20.3 Gadwall - 0.8 
Shoveler -25.3 Scaup - 22.1 
Canvasback - 3.5 Golden-eye + 75.5 
Redhead -32.8 Ruddy duck - 11.6 
Bufflehead + 6.6 

Of the above species the ruddy, blue-winged teal and gadwall occur in such 
small numbers that they are insignificant to the genral waterfowl picture in the north. 
All species of geese and whistling swans decreased as follows: 
Canada geese a 
White-fronted geese 15.1 
Snow geese 16.2 
Black brant 22.2 
Swans 19.8 
Production figures are comparable with 1951 and 1952 only. Compared with 
the latter year the 1954 survey indicates decreases in all areas except the Wooded 
Delta and the Old Crow Flats. The hatch of game ducks was late this season and, we 
feel, less than in 1953, Colonial nesting snow geese and black brant, although being 
late, had a good hatch, while the scattered Tundra nesters, swans, white fronts and 
lesser Canadas did poorly. Canada geese breeding in the timbered areas appeared 
to have been quite successful. 
