158 
Table Il. - Average Brood Size by Age Classification, State Summary, 1954, 

Age Class I Age Class II Age Class III 
No. of Average No. of Average No. of Average 
Species Broods Sizes Broods’ Sizes Broods’ Size 
Mallard 114 6.1 123 Bs. I 54 5.8 
Baldpate 42 5.4 28 6.5 1 6.0 
B-w. & Cinn. teal 40 7.1 6 6.3 3 5.0 
Gadwall ue T.0 17 5.3 1 4.0 
Pintail 18 5.0 8 5.6 2 75 
Shoveler 11 ne 5 4.0 5 5.9 
Redhead 14 7.3 3 6.3 
Ruddy duck 14 5.8 1 2.0 
Golden-eye 5 8.6 8 bd 1 6.0 
Wood duck 2 6.3 5 3.3 
Scaup 7 6.6 
G-w, teal 1 9.0 2 Teo z 9.0 
Merganser 2 sa 1 4.0 
Unidentified 3 5.3 3 10.3 
Total 308 6.2 210 5.4 69 5.8 
The average brood size for 587 broods classified was relatively good (5.9), 
considering the rapidly shrinking habitat as the rearing season progressed, and the 
late hatching date of many broods. There were many Class II broods, even among 
the usually early nesting mallards and pintails, as late as the last week of July. In 
normal seasons nearly half the mallard crop is on the wing shortly after the first of 
July. The average brood size by age classification is summarized in Table II. 
The population index as totaled for the entire State by the field biologists 
working in the various areas shows a small gain over 1953. The 413,000 waterfowl, 
as indicated in Table III, will probably be a more ''normal" average annual production 
than the high figure of 737,000 produced in 1950. A 55 year weather record shows 
no other period in which the total precipitation was as great as the four years 1949- 
1952. Apparently the water table in the past two summers has been receding to 
normal. 
