Breeding Population Trends 
Comparisons of breeding populations of 1953 and 1954 are given in Table II. 
Various yearly comparisons by strata and province are given along with percent of 
change from last year. 
Stratum C shows a decrease of 34 percent from last year but is only low by 
4 percent from the long-time average. This decrease in stratum C to lower than 
normal populations can be traced to poorer water conditions over last year with 
reductions in breeding populations in nearly all species of puddle ducks. Pintails 
showed the greatest loss followed by baldpates and mallards. Diving ducks were 
more static. Losses in redheads were balanced by gains in canvasback and scaup 
with the over-alldiving duck population index showing a loss of 2 percent. 
Table II. - Comparison of Aerial Waterfowl Population Indices, 1953 - 1954. 


: strata A : Strata B : Strata C . Province 

: 1953: 1954 :; 1953 5; 1954 ; 1953 : 1954 ;: 1953 » 854 & 
Total Area =; : : : : 
Square Miles: 22088 : 22088 : 26100 : 26100 : 16112 16112 64300 
Sample Area : § : : : 
uare Miles: 489.7 : 526.5 : 365.2 : 378.0 : 157.7 



1012.6 : 1066.5 
a 

162.0 

eo fee ee fee st 
Totel Ducks : 25306 : 28518 : 11994 : 14966 : 4848 : 3278 : 40148 : 46562 
Total Ducks : ; ‘ ; : H : : : 
39.59 : 30.74 : 20.23 : 37.36 39.59 
oO 
ap 
Qn 
o 
Oo 
ee 8¢ oe G6 F OF °° «@ es ha 
Per Sq. Mi. 46.58 : 54.16 : 32.84 ; 

Totel Fairs : 11653 : 14259 : 5997 : 7463 : 2424 : 1639 : 20074 
Totel Pairs : : : : £ 
Por Sq. Mi. : 23.79 : 27.08 : 16.42 : s Loear.s JO.11 « 28,68 

an 
wo 
e 
oo 
J 
e 08 @f of Gh 88 & ee 8D & 
19.79 
Pop. Index :; : : : 3 : 4 - 
in Ducks :1050986:1196402: 857176:1033366: 495280: 326020: 2403388 :2555788 
Pop. Index : ; ‘ : ; : : : 
in Pairs : 525493: 598201: 428588: 516683: 247640: 163010: 1201694 :1277894 ; 
Percent : : : : ; : : : 
Ch . > = 34: 

Stratum A shows an over-all 14 percent gain in breeding populations for 
1954 when compared with last year. Mallards havé shown a considerable increase 
1l percent) in this stratum this season. It is also significant to note that this 
increase can further be traced to minor species of puddle ducks and all species of 
diving ducks. This stratum, usually the stronghold of the pintail, shows a decrease 
in pintails and also baldpates from the 1953 season. 
