123 
Bre eding Waterfowl Populations 
The total waterfowl population on the 63 habitats examined was 1337. This is 
a Slight increase from 1953 when the population was 1222; about the same as in 1952 
when it was 1358; and in increase from 1951 when it was 1141, 
Seventeen species of breeding waterfowl were found in the area. The numbers 
of each of the 10 most abundant species are shown in the following table. 
Table I, - List of Breeding Waterfowl and Number of Individuals of Each Species 
with Comparisons for Other Years. 


Species 1954 1953 1952 1951 
Mallard 204 199 111 59 
Black duck 321 461 356 131 
Blue -winged teal 137 148 137 161 
Wood duck 195 63 79 18 
Ring -necked duck 73 40 - 26 
Lesser scaup 35 — 83 43 37 
Common golden-eye 140 43 112 96 
Hooded merganser 26 - 34 7 
Common merganser 107 67 65 32 
Coot 66 65 66 62 
gi pee RT hE Ee TR PE SS FE ES 
In addition, the following ducks were represented by five or less individuals 
during the present season; baldpate, pintail, green-winged teal, shoveler, redhead, 
bufflenead, and ruddy duck. 
The mallard, blue-winged teal, hooded merganser, and coot maintained about 
the same status as in 1953, while the black duck and lesser scaup duck decreased in 
numbers and the wood duck, ring-necked duck, common golden-eye, and common 
merganser showed an increase in population over 1953, 
In spite of increased populations of mallards and wood ducks during the past 
four years, the black duck still is the most abundant breeding duck in southern Ontario. 
