
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND AND PRODUCTION SURVEYS IN WISCONSIN - 
1954 
Laurence R. Jahn 
Introduction 
The randomized, spot-type sampling system was again used to determine 
the trend in the Wisconsin waterfowl breeding population. This method has been 
employed each year since 1951. Prior to 1951, extensive ground and aerial 
transect techniques were used. 
The 20 district game managers of the five administrative state areas of the 
game division conducted the field work for the waterfowl surveys. Advisory help 
was given this group of men by personnel of the Pittman-Robertson waterfowl 
research project (W-4-R). 
Methods and Descriptions 
For a detailed discussion of the methods used to follow trends in the State 
waterfowl production picture, see U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special 
Scientific Report: Wildlife No. 12 (1951), or Wisconsin Wildlife Research 10(3):10-24 
(1951).. The system used in 1951 was modified slightly this year. The highlights of 
the sampling system and the modifications are described here. 

1. Each game manager, except in district 10 of game area 3 and district 
17 of game area 5, was asked to census at least 15 water areas in his district by 
ground. Each district was requested to cover at least 75 percent of the same 
water sites censused in 1953. It was suggested that the game managers drop a few 
undesirable census areas, but not more than 25 percent of the total sites per 
district. No aerial work was carried out. 
a. The water sites were censused once during the breeding ground 
survey from May 10 - 29 during regular working hours. The same 
water areas were covered once during the production survey from 
June 28 - July 10, between 4:00 and 8:00 a.m. The hour and one- 
half immediately preceding sunset was also used for running 
production surveys in a few cases. 
b. The 20 game districts in the State were again divided into three 
groups. Each group had different calendar dates for conducting 
the waterfowl surveys to correct for widely varying phenological 
differences. 
2. Managers were urged to census water sites ranging in size from 1/4 
acre to 10 acres. In districts where such areas were scarce, lakes and flowages 
were covered. A few rivers and streams were censused in the northern part of 
the State. 
