268 
A summary of precipitation and temperature, covering the breeding season, 
appears in Table I. 
Table I. - Six-Month Summary of Precipitation and Temperature, Delaware, 1954, 
Precipitation Temperature 
Total Monthly Dep. Preceding 12 Annual Dep.* Av. For Departure 
Month For Mo. From Normal Mos. (Tot.) From Normal Month From Normal 
April 2. 84" -0. 80" 37.24" -~ 7.26"  55,6° +3, 8° 
May 2.38 -1,43 34.23 -10.27 60.6 =o 
June 0.44% -3,58 32.15 ~-12.35 72.0 +0.2 
July 1.93 -2.56 30, 87 -13.63 76.2 +0.3 
August 5.82 +0. 54 34.80 - 9.70 72.9 -0.9 
Sept. 3.39 -0.41 34,55 - 9.25 68,3 +0.3_ 

* Average annual precipitation 44.50 inches. 
*%* Towest recorded in 61 years. 
Breeding Population Trends 
Monthly aerial counts during the winter months have shown a general in- 
crease in the number of wintering waterfowl. However, the breeding population 
remaining after spring migration has not shown any significant change. This is 
shown below ‘in Table II. Although there was no aerial count for May of 1954, data 
from the aerial transects and the permanent ground study area indicate that the 1954 
breeding population was essentially the same as in previous years. 
Table II. - Spring Aerial Counts of Waterfowl in Delaware. 


Year March April May 
1954 71,393 4,321 no count 
1953 42,780 6,476 1,214 
1952 38,797 9,919 1,056 
1951 26,374 5,180 1,193 
