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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY, NORTH DAKOTA 
Bernard A. Fashingbauer and James E. Sjordal 
Introduction 
The waterfowl breeding ground investigations conducted by the North Dakota 
Game and Fish Department in 1954 represent the seventh consecutive statewide survey 
to be carried out. 
The purpose of these waterfowl surveys is to obtain information relative to the 
progress of the spring migration, the size of the breeding population and the success 
of the breeding season. The data obtained, when compared with similar information 
secured in other years, will help determine the trends in the various aspects of 
waterfowl populations. 
The census work in its entirety was carried out by personnel of the P-R 
Division of the State Game and Fish Department. 
Sampling Methods and Area Covered 
Techniques employed in censusing the 1954 breeding waterfowl population were 
identical to those used in 1953. Both aerial and ground censuses were conducted, 
The aerial census was conducted along 18 transects which traverse the State in 
an east-west direction and are located 12 miles apart ina north-south direction. 
The ground census was conducted along eight transects which traverse the State 
in a north-south direction. The east-west distance between the ground transects 
varies with the location of suitable roads. 
In both the aerial and ground inventories, all the game species of waterfowl 
observed within a one-quarter mile strip are tallied and geographically located. 
Each year the breeding pair census is begun immediately after the apparent 
completion of the spring migration. In 1954 the aerial and ground censuses were 
conducted concurrently within the period May 15 to May 27, inclusive. 
Aerially observed duck densities obtained by a random sample (slightly more 
than 2 percent) of the entire State serve as the basis in determining the breeding 
population index. The ground census provides information relative to the species 
composition and sex ratio of the waterfowl population, in addition to providing an index 
to water areas. The sex ratio data permit the computation of a corrective factor to 
compensate for hens not observed during the aerial census because of nesting 
activities or other reasons. By applying the detailed information obtained during the 
ground census to the mass aerial data, the latter becomes more useful and reliable 
as an indication of the state-wide minimum breeding waterfowl population. 
