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283 
Summary and Conclusions 
1. All species of breeding game ducks were decreased at the start of the 1954 
nesting season. Heaviest losses were recorded for the ring-necked duck and the 
wood duck. 
Z. It was the most retarded and prolonged nesting season since 1940. Excessive 
precipitation and below average temperatures prevailed throughout the entire 
spring and summer. 
3. Three periods of floods are believed to have caused more nest losses than 
usual, Mink predation on nests was the highest in 16 years. Nevertheless a 
relatively large proportion of birds, particularly in central and southern Maine, 
appeared to have re-nested successfully, and over-all nesting success is believed 
to be little different from a year ago. 
4. Because of the consistently high water of July and August, rearing conditions 
for broods were better than last year. 
5. In considering all aspects of the 1954 breeding season, the improved rearing 
conditions for broods, as well as a considerable amount of successful re-nesting, 
partially offset the initial population decreases and the heavy early nest losses. 
It is believed that the ultimate productivity of Maine's marshes was only slightly 
lowered from that of 1953. Nevertheless this marks the second consecutive year of 
a general decline. 
