
286 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY, THE NORTHEASTERN 
STATES, 1954 
Francis B. Schuler 
Introduction 
This report on waterfowl production is based on data and written opinions 
of personnel in the Fish and Wildlife Service, the States and private cooperators. 
It was collected in the same manner as in previous years. 
The number of comparable areas increased by approximately 30 percent 
over last year. The increases occurred in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, 
Massachusetts, New York and New Hampshire. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Early spring was cold and wet throughout the Northeast. Low daily temper- 
atures retarded vegetative growth in the more southerly sections and delayed the 
Spring break-up in the North. In some sections of Main, "ice out'' was reported 
as being three weeks later than normal. Rainfall in the southern portion of the 
region was below normal in May and June. Drought conditions prevailed in June 
and early July with a resulting drop in water levels from New Jersey southward. A 
series of hiph tides during spring and early summer was reported on the coastal 
marshes of New Jersey. Precipitation continued above normal over much of New 
York State and New England from May through the first week of June. It was the 
wettest May in the history of the Boston and Portland Weather Bureaus. Average 
temperatures were below normal for this period. Flood waters were reported in 
April and May from many of the steeper drainages in Maine, New Hampshire, and 
New York State, although in the Lake Plain section of the latter State, the high 
waters were reported as being favorable. Later, water levels in the northern 
portion receded gradually, although still above normal for mid-June and early July. 
Breeding Population Trends 
Reports from the majority of observers throughout the region indicated the 
breeding population to be ample for production; some thought the number of birds 
present exceeded last year. Early nesting was reported in the South, while 
New England and New York State reports indicated the nésting season was late. A 
few observers reported nesting birds during the first week of July. The high waters 
experienced during May and June were reported to have destroyed many nests, and 
late nestings observed this year are quite likely renesting attempts. Some area 
reports indicate that high water two to six feet above normal may have caused birds 
to desert their usual nesting and rearing areas for others on which we have no reports. 
