35 
Nesting 
Forty active nests were located on Area II, 15 of which were mallards, 21 
pintails. Nest success was relatively high, 62.5 percent. Crow predation accounted 
for 60 percent of the unsuccessful nests. 
One hundred and six active nests were located on Area III, approximate half 
(52) of which were mallard nests. Average nest success was very low (31 percent) 
due to an excessive amount of avian predation. Both crows and magpies accounted 
for the destruction of a greater number of waterfowl nests in the parklands this 
year because of the scarcity of good nesting cover until after June 15. The very late 
spring held back all vegetation. Even the aspens were not fully leaved until June 15 
in the southwestern parklands, In cases where predation was definitely established, 
33 percent was attributed to crows and magpies, 16 percent to coyotes and/or ground 
' squirrels, In most of the questionable cases, eggs were completely removed from 
the nest without any observable disturbance to or around the nest. Because of the 
relative frequency with which scattered eggs were found throughout the area which 
had been destroyed by crows and magpies, it is assumed that the bulk of the nests 
destroyed by 'unknown causes' could be attributed to these avian predators. Aside 
from the 106 active nests located, 83 nests were found-which had already been 
destroyed when located. These were not considered in securing nest success 
figures. 
Eighty-one active nests were located on Area IV, one-half of which were 
mallards. Nest success was lower here than on any of the other study areas, 27.9 
percent. Avian predators accounted for 40 percent of nests lost, mammalian 
predators 14 percent, 21 percent were lost to unknown causes, 19 percent were 
deserted and 6 percent were lost by flooding. Four of the deserted nests were 
believed to have been abandoned because of the extreme weather in late April and 
early May. In this area, also, many of the losses by ‘unknown causes' were | 
probably the result of avian predation. 
Production 
At least two brood counts of the 'beat-out' variety were made on each area 
from late June to early August. Because of the drought conditions on the southern 
prairies, brood counts on Area I were merely a formality. 
Table IV. - Brood Counts, Area I. 

Species | June July Total Production* 
Mallard 0 1 l 
Pintail 2 2 4 
Totals | , 2 | . 3 5 
* The location of the pintail broods observed in June and in July was such as 
to assure the observer that they were not repeat observations. 
