29 
To further simplify and standarize the transect data for all provinces, all 
transects were flown and data recorded by intervals of 18 linear miles each. 
The number and location of all aerial transects in all strata was identical 
in 1952, 1953 and 1954, 
Weather and Water Conditions 
The 1954 waterfowl breeding season in Alberta was delayed about two weeks 
by a period of unseasonably low temperatures accompanied by snow between April 19 
and May 2. Heavy snows in the parklands and northern prairies left all but the 
extreme eastern and southern areas in good condition as far as water was concerned. 
A compilation of precipitation reports by the Searle Grain Company showed 
Alberta's general moisture condition to be 90 percent of normal on May 5. Light 
snows and rains in the south (Strata C) made this area relatively poor breeding 
habitat in May. General heavy rains in central and northern areas in May and June 
improved the over-all moisture condition to 106 percent of normal by June 15. At 
this time, however, the extreme south continued to dry out. From mid-June until 
July 27, the general moisture condition of the province deteriorated further toa 
point 86 percent of normal. By August 10 this had risen again to 95 percent, Never- 
theless, southern areas never did recover their early water losses during the period 
of this survey as Table I illustrates below. 
Table I. - Water Areas on Aerial Transects, May and July, 1954. 




Strata A Strata B Strata C Province 
May July May July May July May July 
Total Ponds 
Seen 5169 2872 4392 2895 615 329 10176 6096 
Ponds per 
Sq. Mi. 19.62 10.91 23.24 15.69 7.59 3. 85 18.07 11.43 
Loss or 
Gain -44.4% -32.5% -49.2% -~36. 7% 

An experimental running of a second brood survey from July 26 to August 2 
illustrated the rapidity of the disappearance of water areas in late summer. Further 
losses occurredinall strata with the result that total water loss from May to August 
was 60.8 percent in Stratum A, 44.9 percent in Stratum B, 62.3 percent in Stratum C 
and an average provincial loss of 58.2 percent. Prior to this year, we have little 
accurate data on this late summer loss, therefore, no comparable figures are 
available for other years. 
