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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY - UTAH, 1954 
Noland F. Nelson 
Introduction 
The 1954 waterfowl breeding ground survey represents the sixth consecutive year 
such a survey has been carried on in Utah. The survey has been expanded each year 
and now covers those areas which are known to contain the bulk of the waterfowl 
breeding population of the State. Most of Utah is either mountains or desert so that 
the waterfowl areas are concentrated around the major lakes, rivers, and irrigated 
areas, It is difficult to get accurate counts on these concentration areas but it is 
hoped that aerial and ground counts will give general trends in the breeding populations, 
With .the exception of the assistance of an aerial observer from the Utah Cooper- 
ative Wildlife Research Unit, all of the data were secured by personnel of the Pittman- 
Robertson Division of the State Fish and Game Department. 
Survey Methods 
Aerial transect routes flown in 1954 followed the identical route of permanent 
transects flown in 1953. The route over Cache County was eliminated because the 
limited waterfowl of this area did not warrant survey time. The Sevier River transect 
was replaced by a ground count because of the difficulty in counting this meandering 
stream by air. All the aerial transects were flown at elevations of 200 feet at speeds 
of 75 to 80 miles per hour, with two observers covering a ground stip one-eighth 
mile wide on either side of the airplane. Observers in most cases were able to 
record the species of ducks, as well as to note whether birds occurred as pairs, 
singles, or groups. 
Intensive pround counts of waterfowl were made on key waterfowl areas in the 
State to augment the aerial survey. Brood counts were also made on these same 
State waterfowl areas. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Unprecedented drought conditions in the winter, spring, and summer months of 
1954 produced conditions that undoubtedly reduced the production of waterfowl in Utah. 
The spring run-off from winter snows was below normal in most of the State, reducing 
the storage of water in reservoirs and the spring flooding of many marsh areas, 
Heavy demands for spring and summer irrigation water, plus limited rainfall, reduced 
most marsh areas of the State to permanent impoundments. Many areas that have 
formerly produced ducks were dry in the early spring. The drought of the summer 
months increased the mortality of broods. 
