
258 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY - OHIO 
1954 
Delmar Handley 
Methods and Coverage 
This report summarizes the findings of three methods of breeding pair 
surveys. One was an aerial transect flown on May 24 through the Lake Erie 
Marshes by the leader of the State-wide waterfowl project. Another was a series 
of ground checks conducted throughout the spring by area managers on the State 
controlled Magee Marsh and Resthaven Public Hunting areas. The final method, 
which was underteken for the first time on a state-wide basis during the spring of 
1954, was a float trip conducted over a number of streams throughout Ohio. This 
latter survey, which was initiated primarily to compile data on wood duck breeding 
populations, had two coverages of the same stretch of stream. One stream was 
unavoidably omitted on the second survey. The first of the surveys was made 
during the first two weeks of April and the second during the first two weeks of May. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Weather and water conditions were in general favorable to waterfowl 
production during the spring of 1954. The Lake Erie Marshes, which are period- 
ically inundated by the high water levels of Lake Erie effecting heavy losses of 
nests and eggs, contained a fairly even water level throughout the early spring 
months. 
The inland lakes and streams were about normal with slightly lower water 
levels than were experienced during the spring months of previous years. 
Following are the findings from areas under observation during the spring 
of 1954, 
Table I. - Aerial Breeding Pair Survey, Lake Erie Marshes* 

Pairs Pairs/Sq. Mi. 
Species 1953 1954 1953 1954 Percent Change 
Mallard 122 71 8.7 7.1 - 18.39 
Black 88 91 6.3 9.1 + 30.78 
Blue-winged teal 11 ll .8 1.1 + 27,28 
Wood duck 4 5 ae 5 + 60.00 
Total 225 171 16,1 17.8 + 9.55 
* 105 linear miles flown during 1953 (13.9 square miles). 
80 linear miles flown on same but reduced transect 
during 1954 (10 square miles). 
