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Brood Success 
The following table gives a record of all broods observed from 1951 through 
1954. : 
Table II. - Average Size of Broods - Comparison with Other Years. 
Species 1954 _ 1953 1952 1951 
Mallard 6.1 (46) 5.8 (19) 5.7 (19) 4.5 (2) 
Black duck 5.0 (51) 5.4 (30) 6.3 (37) 5.4 (6) 
Blue-winged teal 6.4 ( 7) 6.4( 8) 8.6 ( 9) 6.0 (1) 
Wood duck 4.6{( 9) 4.0 (10) 5.8 (19) 7.6 (2) 
Ring-necked duck 4.8 (16) 5.6 (44) 5.3 (58) 5.9 (19) 
Lesser scaup 7.0 ( 2) - - 3,0 
Common golden-eye 5.7 (18) 4.7 (12) Seb (22) 7.3 (8) 
Hooded merganser 7.6 £3) ee | - 8.0 
Common merganser 9.8 ( 6) 9.0 ( 2) 6.0 (11) 4,2 (4) 
Coot 3.6 ( 3) 5.0 ( 3) 3.0 ( 2) 3.3 (6) 
The bracketed figures refer to the numbers of broods from which averages 
are derived. 
Brood success remained about the same as in 1953 in the black duck, blue- 
winged teal, and hooded merganser. Mallard, wood duck, common golden-eye and 
common merganser produced larger broods than in 1953, while the ring-necked duck 
and coot.produced, on the average, less young than during the previous year. The 
decrease in-the average size of broods in the ring-necked duck was brought about 
by the poor success they had in the best local breeding area in southern Ontario. 
Brood success for this species outside this one marsh was about normal-for the 
species. It is thought that fluctuating water levels which occurred on this marsh 
this year were the cause of the poor brood success. 
Summary and Conclusions 
Waterfowl breeding ground surveys were again carried out in southern 
Ontario by the same personnel, by the same methods, and on the same 63 habitats 
as during the past three years. 
The weather throughout the season was cool and wet. Water levels were 
high in the northern portion of the area surveyed and about normal in the southern 
portion. No damage was reported or observed from high or fluctuating water 
levels, except in one small area where a dam was being built. Nesting was from 
seven to 10 days later than in 1953. Cool and wet weather did not appear to hamper 
nesting operations and brood production, 
