114 
the ice went out on May 4. About two feet of snow was still present in the bush in 
the country east of Kenora during the May survey. The season was late over the 
entire country, but it was mosi retarded in that area between Kenora and Armstrong 
Station. At that time the only water available to waterfowl was at the mouths of 
fast streams emptying into lakes. However, from Kenora to Armstrong Station 32 
percent of the mallards recorded were lone drakes, indicating at least that some 
nesting was in progress. 
The weather for the most part was cold and cloudy, and lakes did not start 
to open up until about May 20. Even then lakes in the northern portion of the 
provinces remained frozen, and during late May and the early part of June the larger 
lakes, suchas Atikamep, Reindeer lake, Wollaston Lake, Black Lake, and Lake 
Athabaska, were still ice covered. 
Because of the entremely retarded spring there was practically no early 
hatch of ducks in the north. The late nesting season was further hampered by very 
extensive, frequent, and prolonged rains, which usually are conducive to high egg 
and juvenile mortality. River deltas, which are the highest duck producing areas in 
the north (such as the Athabaska and Saskatchewan River deltas), have been 
extensively and severely flooded, and as a result waterfowl nesting (especially scaup) 
has been seriously disrupted. Even in the precambrian area, which is usually 
immune to flooding, many of the better waterfowl breeding areas (such as Pukatawagan 
and the English River drainage) show the result of too much rain. In this area, 
because of the shortness of the season, it is unlikely that extensive renesting can 
occur, 
Breeding Populations Survey 
A total duck index for each stratum was computed on data collected during the 
survey, and is presented in Tables II through VII. All data have been corrected for 
hens on neSts. 
Stratum C in Ontario shows a decrease of 38.7 percent from 1953. The 1953 
figures, however, were 62 percent above those of 1952. Large decreases were 
recorded for mallards, mergansers, and ring-necked ducks. Black ducks increased 
Sharply and scaups showed a slight increase. The increase in black ducks was 
probably due to the additional sampling in eastern Ontario. 
A substantial decrease (40 percent) was also recorded for Stratum C in 
Manitoba. All species but the baldpate showed a decrease, but the most important 
decreases were in the mallard, scaup, and ring-necked ducks. A decrease of 66 
percent was recorded for the mallard. 
The Saskatchewan River delta (Stratum D), which has the highest breeding 
density of any area covered in this survey, had a population decrease of 26 percent.. 
All species of ducks, except ring-neck and scoter, decreased in numbers from 1953. 
The most important decreases were, again, in the mallard and scaup. 
