48 
Brood Age ('"'Crop Maturity") 
The degree of maturity of the duck crop in July has much bearing on the 
chances for eventual success of that crop. 
July, 1954 - 0.65 II and III broods per square mile (72 percent of total) 
July, 1953 - 1.1 Il and III broods per square mile (69 percent of total) 
Pintails and mallards were most advanced with a few individuals of these 
species flying. Actually, there were few broods of any age in the parklands at the 
time of the survey. 
These figures would indicate a smaller, but equally late, first attempt in 
1954 than that in 1953. The potential figure above would indicate that a smaller 
late crop could be expected. 
Meaning of "Potential Later Broods" 
As a check on the "potential later brood" data collected in the regular 
July 9 - 20 brood survey, segments of the transect pattern were re-run in late July 
and early August. The following data has been recomputed for comparative 
purposes: 
Broods Change From Later Broods 
Per Sq. Mi. Previous Count Per Sq. Mi. Total 
A -East July 10-13 0.8 - 4.9 wet 
July 29-Aug. 1 3.2 300% 2.6 5.8 
Aug. 10-13 6.5 103% L3 7.8 
A - West July 11-15 | | - z.0 3.1 
July 27-30 1.4 27% 0.5 1.9 
B - July 16-18 1.3 - 1.3 2.6 
July 29-30 1.8 39% 0.5 2.3 
Cc - July 14-15 9.8 - 1,3 2.1 
July 28 0.6 -25% 0.4 1.0 
The number of actual broods increased on subsequent coverages in all 
strata but 'C'"', This exception was probably because the moderate late hatch that 
was indicated failed to compensate for the advanced pintail and mallard broods that 
were flying by July 25. Flying broods are not recorded this late in the season 
because they cannot be distinguished from flying adults. 
