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noted and in Area XI the increase was over 400 percent.. 
The over-all picture is that five Game Management Areas had fewer pairs, 
two had about the same or a slight increase, and two had a very large increase. 
An examination of the field data of Areas X and XI showed that the increase 
was almost entirely in blue-winged teal pairs, other species being present in about 
the usual abundance. The transects in Areas X and XI were driven on May 7 and 8. 
The blue-winged teal were paired up and were well distributed. However, sucha 
count seemed so unreasonable that on May 19 and later that week the Biologists of 
Area XI and Area VIII got together and ran a reconnaissance in Area XI. At this 
time many fewer pairs of blue-winged teal were seen than had been recorded earlier. 
Apparently many of the blue-winged teal recorded on May 7 and 8 had moved out 
since then. This also seemed to be the case in Area X. 
Upon reviewing the situation it seems that a quite unusual set of circum- 
stances had occurred, Phenologically, the vegetation and season in general had 
reached the stage on May 7 and 8 that is generally considered proper for the driving 
of the transects. Ordinarily, the spring migration would have passed through by 
this time for all practical purposes of the census. However, this year migrant 
blue-winged teal were present later than usual, Possibly they had moved back south 
due to the stormy, blizzardy, inclement weather that existed further north. The 
Area XII Biologist had sensed that situation and waited until May 17 and 18 to drive 
his routes even though census conditions were quite difficult at that time. 
Thus, it is probable that the increase shown by the data summary iS in error. 
One possibility for getting an idea of the actual situation was to substitute the 1953 
count of blue-winged teal for the 1954 count for Areas X and XI. This was done and 
the number of pairs per Square mile becomes 2.18 compared with 2.41 last year. 
The writer of this report believes that the actual breeding duck population was relative- 
ly low in at least the southern half of the State. Breeding conditions were generally 
good after the storm of early May. It is likely that if any nesting loss occurred then, 
that renesting would take place since it was so early in the season, 
Success of the Season 
The early part of June was generally favorable for nesting. The Fergus Falls 
area, however, received 2,24 inches of rain on June 7; one inch was recorded at 
Thief River Falls on June 11. 
June 14 - 16 was a period of high winds and rain in west-central and north- 
western Minnesota. At Thief River Falls, 1.35 inches of rain fell and the wind 
velocity was measured at over 90 miles per hour. An observer at Thief Lake saw 
sheets of water whipped up from the surface of the lake. This storm undoubtedly 
destroyed some of the nests that were over or near the water on larger water areas. 
The period June 18 - 20 was one of general rains in the State. Southern Minnesota was 
hit hardest and flooding of pastures and croplands took place in several areas. For 
example, 5.44 inches of rain fell at Fairmont on these three days. Nests were un- 
questionably flooded out in some areas. 
