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The status of the initial population of the six species of breeding ducks is 
as follows: 
Species Status in 1954 
Measured on Census Areas: 
See eee Ne eee es ee 
Black duck 4% decrease 
Ring-necked duck ; 15% decrease 
Wood duck 18% decrease 
Estimated: 
American goldeneye Slight decrease 
Green-winged teal Slight decrease 
Blue -winged teal Slight decrease 
General Breeding Conditions 
Heavy snows and sub-zero temperatures during the last week of March 
heralded the beginning of the most backward spring and summer season that Maine 
has experienced in many years, Temperatures have been below average and 
precipitation has been above average for the entire period. It was the wettest May 
in the history of the Portland Weather Bureau, with rain occurring on 24 days. 
Three periods of floods prevailed as follows: (1) April 16-18, very heavy and 
statewide; (2) May 9-11, minor, being heaviest in southern and central Maine; 
(3) June 27-28, of major proportions in northern Maine. 
The growing season for both terrestrial and aquatic plants was retarded by 
more than two weeks. Waterfowl chronology likewise was retarded ever since 
migration, which occurred about 2 or 3 weeks late for the early migrants and a 
week to 10 days behind schedule for the later arrivals such as ring-necks and teal. 
Judging by the data from both nests and broods, the nesting season and 
hatching peaks for the early breeding species were the latest since 1940. Black duck 
hatching was nearly 3 weeks later than last year and about 10 days later than the 
15-year average. On the Unit study areas only a small proportion of the nests 
hatched during May; this is in sharp contrast to 1953 when over half of all black duck 
nests hatched during that month. The late migration and the retarded season 
delayed nesting for many of the birds. Also the April flood undoubtedly wiped out 
the majority of nests in existence at the time; although many of the birds so affected 
were able to re-nest, they did not produce many young until June or July. On the 
other hand, the normally later nesting teal and ring-necked ducks were much closer 
to their usual schedule. Ring-necks nested only about a week later than a year ago 
and at close to the 15-year average dates. However, ring-necks, and also wood 
ducks, had a very prolonged nesting season with numerous hatches at very late 
dates. This indicated that these species, like the black duck, were forced to do more 
than the usual amount of re-nesting. Latest hatchings by species recorded on Unit 
study areas were: wood duck, July 27; black duck, July 30; ring-necked duck, 
August ll. 
