266 
Table V.- Aerial Census of Waterfowl Production on Marshes ~- New York State. 

Waterfowl Observed 



Per Square Mile Production Index * 
Type* Year Broods Pairs Broods Pairs 
Maple-Beech1951 262 0.15 82 5 
1952 1.23 1.08 39 34 
1953 4.58 2.36 219 113 
1954 4.33 0.83 208 40 
Oak-Chest- 
nut 1951 2.57 0 23 0 
1952 0 O71 0 5 
1953 0.77 By Te 6 6 
1954 LG 0 15 0 

* See Footnote under Tavle III. 
Even though only one river was comparable with last year, the canoe work 
indicated that definitely significant and sizeable populations exist on these waterways. 
There seemed to be a slight increase in production in 1954 over 1953 on the portion 
of the Raquette River covered. A very high density of both pairs and broods (mostly 
black ducks) was found on a segment of the Saranac River. The Jones Pond situation 
was a special one where broods of ring-necks, wood ducks and blacks were found in 
a relatively small amount of excellent habitat. 
The indication is also that more broods were eventually produced than were 
seen at the time, unless the picture is clouded by possible non-breeders or by the 
confusion in the sexing of black ducks where each single is called a pair. 
Summary 
Ground surveys indicated a slight decrease in production over 1953 but banding 
studies did not substantiate this. Transects flown as in the past indicated waterfowl 
production in 1954 as somewhat down from 1953, but this was probably explained by 
the wetter, later and more prolonged nesting season this year. The data gathered 
on the canoe work seemed to substantiate this. Reliability of the figures obtained by 
this transect method are, however, open to question, and it is hoped that further 
modification will be made of the aerial production survey especially if each State is 
to use the data for its own management purposes. 
