SOUTHEY STUDY AREA - SASKATCHEWAN 
R. T. Sterling 
The two square mile study area is located forty-one miles north of Regina, 
Saskatchewan. The terrain is moderately rolling with numerous small willow and 
aspen ringed potholes. Ninety percent of the area is under cultivation. 
Most of the ponds contained water at freeze-up in 1953 and the normal spring 
runoff was sufficient to fill all ponds. From the middle of May onward, cool, wet 
weather persisted with a resulting rise in water levels. The ponds are now at their 
highest level for many years. Mature aspen are standing in as much as two feet of 
water and are showing signs of dying. In a few cases the marsh vegetaion has already 
extended beyond the treed borders. 
Breeding pair counts were carried out between May 15 and June 12. Mallard 
and Pintail had established nests before May 15 but incubation had not commenced. 
Production was determined from two brood counts, one on June 29 and the 
other on August 12. Flooding of the treed borders made brood counts very difficult. 
The use of a dog which forced the females to show themselves was found very helpful. 
The breeding population has been increasing steadily since 1952, see Table I. 
Breeding success has also improved, increasing from 36.8 percent in 1952 to 52.9 
and 50.7 in 1953-1954 respectively. 
Table I. - Breeding Population and Production - Southey Study Area - 1952, 1953, 1954 - 
Breeding Population 

Pairs Broods 
Species 1952 1953 1954 1952 1953 1954 
Mallard 13 19 27 5 9 13 
Blue-winged teal 7 1] 13 1 5 6 
Pi ntail 6 10 13 z 4 7 
Gadwall l 3 1 1 - 1 
Baldpate 3 3 5 2 3 2 
Shoveler 2 3 2 1 3 2 
Green-winged teal 2 - 1 2 1 1 
Lesser scaup Z 2 3 - - 2 
Canvasback l - 2 - 1 1 
Redhead 1 - - - - - 
Ruddy 1 ~ 2 - ~ 
Total 38 51 69 14 27 35 
Per Square Mile 19,5 25.5 34.5 7 13.5 17.5 
