125 
-& total of 1337 individual waterfowl was found on the 63 habitats. This 
number is a Slight increase in the total for 1953 and about the same as the population 
for 1952, 
The black duck is the most abundant breeder in the area, followed by mallard, 
wood duck, common golden-eye, and blue-winged teal. 
The results of the surveys would indicate that no species experienced a 
really poor season but some had a better one than others. The following comments, 
by species, should give an idea of waterfowl production in southern Ontario in 1954. 
The wood duck had both a larger breeding population and an increased brood 
success as did the gdden-eye and common merganser. 
The mallard maintained a comparable breeding population but brood success 
was greater than in 1953. 
Blue -winged teal, ring-necked duck, lesser scaup, and hood merganser 
populations may remain at about the same levels as in 1953 because of lower breeding 
populations or poorer brood success. 
The black duck and coot populations may show a slight decrease in numbers, 
because of a decrease in numbers of breeding birds in the case of the black duck and 
poorer brood success in the case of the coot. 
The season appeared to be particularly favorable to hole-nesting ducks; 
wood duck, common golden-eye, and common merganser had an increased breeding 
population and better brood success, while the hooded merganser maintained about 
the same status as in 1953. 
