WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY - NEW YORK, 1954 
Dirck Benson, Donald D. Foley and Donald Schierbaum 
Introduction 
Three types of activities conducted this summer and fall have yielded data 
indicative of the 1954 waterfowl production. These include ground surveys, banding 
and aerial transect flights and are discussed separately below. 
Ground Surveys 
Breeding ground survey of sample areas by ground observers in New York is 
partially summarized elsewhere in this report in Schuler's report on the Northeastern 
States. During the rearing season of 1953 some 81 small marsh units were surveyed 
and in 1954 a total of 181 were studied. These marsh units, averaging five acres, 
are all man-made and constructed under the wildlife restoration program. Table l 
presents the comparative observations for the two years. 
Table I. - Comparison of Broods Observed per Marsh Unit in 1953 and 1954 in New York, 
Units Broods Observed Per Unit 
Year Surveyed — Black Mallard Wood Blue -winged teal Total 
1953 81 0.26 0.56 0.75 . 8 02 1.69 
1954 181 0.23 0.39 0.53 0.06 1,21 
While these data suggest somewhat lower brood production on the average 
than in 1953, the data are not conclusive. Gradually receding waterlevels in some 
temporary swamp and swale areas may not have necessitated as early moves to per- 
manent units as occurred in 1953. % 
Banding Studies 
During the summer of 1954 a total of 1874 ducks were banded in New York 
State during July, August and September. During the year experimental trapping was 
conducted on some of the small marshes constructed by the Department as well as on 
the larger management areas. The trapping is summarized in Table ITI. 
