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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN THE ST, JOHN ESTUARY, 1954 
Donald B. Reid 
Introduction 
This report is a summary of the results of the 1954 waterfowl] breeding 
ground survey in the estuary of the St. John River, New Brunswick. 
This is the tenth year in which the annual survey has been conducted by 
personnel of the Northeastern Wildlife Station, and because coverage and techniques 
are essentially the same as in previous years, the data are comparable. The survey 
was made this year by the writer, assisted by Barry Meadows. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
The waterfowl breeding season has been characterized by a general retarded 
phenology and by a cool, wet spring and summer. 
The break-up of the ice on the St. John River occurred on April 12, compared 
with March 28 of 1953. The peak flood did not occur until April 24 and 25, compared 
with the five-year average of April 17, and with the peak occurring on April 3 in 
1953. The water level of the river has been subjected to violent fluctuation through- 
out the summer, and excessive precipitation in the month of June probably resulted 
in the flooding of many late-nesting ducks--not only ringnecks but also puddle ducks 
attempting to renest for the second and third time. : 
The first black duck brood was not observed until May 31, although the 
average date for the appearance of broods on the study area is May 16. 
Although the total mileage of slough shoreline on the study area was severely 
reduced in 1953 to 74.4 miles by dry, hot weather and by the filling of electric power 
reservoirs up river, it has this year been regained for a total of 108.5 miles. A 
comparison of the precipitation of the two years from June 1 to August 20 is present- 
ed in Table I. Although rainfall was less in July of 1954 than in 1953, this was 
compensated by cool, cloudy weather and by almost daily rainfall during early 
August. Indicative of the high water level is the statistic released by the Department 
of North Affairs and National Resources that strean flow of the St. John River during 
the month of July, 1954 was 213 percent above normal. 
Table I. - Precipitation Comparison . 


1953 1954 
June 2.00 6.42 
July 6.29 3.14 
August 1.37 3.32 
(to Aug. 20 only) 

Total 9.66 12. 88 
