134 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY, QUEBEC, 1954 
Louis Lemieux 
Introduction 
The breeding ground survey was conducted for the sixth consecutive year in the 
Province of Quebec in 1954 and the brood survey, initiated in 1951, was also 
repeated. 
The breeding ground survey was conducted by Messrs. Louis Lemieux and 
Raymond Cayouette, Quebec Zoological Garden (Quebec Department of Fish and Game), 
The brood survey was made by Louis Lemieux. 
Methods and Area Surveyed 
This survey was altered in many ways this year; Lochaber Bay, Carillon Island 
and Bay, the west end of Lake Saint #2ier and a portion of the south shore of the 
St. Lawrence River (from Montmagny to Riviere-du-Loup), all of which used to be 
included in the survey, were left out. Waterfowl observed in those areas in the past 
were migrants and their numbers could hardly be usefully compared from year to 
year. The survey was repeated between Riviere-du-Loup and Matane, and the new 
areas were investigated, namely, Apple Island, near Ile Verte in the St. Lawrence, 
and the Lake St. John - Chibougamau area. 
Apple Island is a low, rocky island, approximate one and one-half miles long and 
one-half mile wide, situated two miles offshore, between Ile Verte and Ile aux Basques. 
There are hardly any trees on the island; it is covered with low shrubs, Vaccinium sp., 
Empetrum sp.; Juniperus sp., etc. The island supports a large number of breeding 
eider ducks, herring gulls, double-crested cormorants and a few black ducks. 
Surveys of an island such as this one should supply an index of the fluctuations of the 
breeding population of eiders and data on their breeding success. Nests were counted 
along transect lines. 
The Lake St. John and Chibougamau district was also surveyed this year, with 
largely negative results. A reconnaissance was made by automobile around Lake 
St. John and along the road to Chibougamau. Hardly any waterfowl were observed and 
it is consideied that this district offers no good possibility for breeding ground surveys. 
The dates of the survey were also changed this year. Formerly the survey was 
made early in May; it was felt that this was too early and that many of the birds 
observed at that time were migrants on their way north to their breeding grounds. 
Accordingly, the survey made along the St. Lawrence River and at Apple Island was 
conducted from June 4 to June 10 and the Lake St. John area was visited at the end of 
June. 
