41 
Table VII. - Brood Counts, Area IV, 

Total 
Species June July August Production 
Mallard 5 12 31 31 
Pintail - 6 9 9 
Gadwall - - 3 3 
B-w. teal ? - 1 15 19 
G-w. teal - 1 19 9 
Baldpate - - 9 15 
Shoveler - - 5 5 
Redhead - - 3 3 
Canvasback - 4 4 
Scaup - ~ 6 6 
Bufflehead = - 1 l 
Ruddy - - 1 l 
Unidentified = = 1 1 
Totals : 5 22 107 107 
In arriving at a total production figure the final brood count has been used. 
This becomes necessary because of the age of broods observed during the first 
and second counts. With a breeding population of 470 pairs, a production of 107 
broods indicates a brood success of 22.8 percent as compared to a nest success of 
only 27.9 percent. One hundred and seven broods which averaged 6.4 ducklings 
per brood at Class IIB and III size represent 685 ducklings or a population increase 
of 72.9 percent. 
It now appears after afew years of study that though parkland areas of 
Alberta may have greater breeding populations than do the prairies per unit area, 
predation losses are greater and total production falls below prairie standards, 
Nevertheless present indications lead us to suspect that periods of severe drought 
and years of early agricultural practices detrimental to nesting waterfowl on the 
" prairies may over a period of years cause production in both areas to equalize. 
Further detailed ground studies in both strata will provide us with firmer ground 
on which to base our beliefs. 
Aerial versus Ground Coverage of Breeding Populations 
An aerial Census of breeding pairs was flown at least twice on each study 
area in May and early June, For purposes of comparison results are compiled 
here of those surveys taken during the peak of the populations to coincide with data 
recorded in Table II. 
