

Molting.--The first evidence of molt was observed July 16, but 
most molting takes place in August and the first two weeks of 
September. Observation a year ago, during a molt study, suggested 
juvenals do not molt their primaries until their second summer. It 
has also becn observed that adults molt their three outer narrow 
primaries simultaneousiy. One solid piece of evidence was turned 
up indicating juvenals do not molt these outer primaries the first 
year. In 1955, the top inch of each outer primary was clipped off 
for later sex verification. One return caught this year (#553- 
50260) and first netted as a juvenal in July 1955, still had a 
clipped outer primary thus indicating this feather was not molted 
the first year. 
The two fifth primaries of each bird were collected this 
summer. Cursory examination under a binocular microscope suggests 
the separation of adults and juvenals in July is valid and obvious 
on the basis of feather wear. In this instance, one is comparing 
a primary of an adult which has gone through two migrations with 
a juvenal about eight weeks old. To use this technique in the 
fall will require separation of primaries of juvenals which will 
be 5-6 months old, and adults with new primaries approximately 
two months old. Further study of collected specimens and summer 
primaries will be completed during the next quarter. 
Adult hen-chick ratio.--As an index of annual success in pro- 
duction, it is suggested that a comparison of the adult hen-chick 
ratio of summer captured birds may be valid. It is of interest 
that in 1955 the adult hen-chick ratio:was.one hen to 2.4 chicks; 
in 1956 the adult hen-chick ratio was 1:1.5 suggesting rearing 
success was significantly less in 1956. Because of the question 
of the validity of the netting sample where juvenal males out- 
number juvenal females by 2 to 1, it is doubtful if the figures 
given above protray true rearing success. It seems logical, 
however, that as an index of productivity, the figures may be 
valid. 
As will be discussed under application of these findings to 
management, it is of importance that the MDC hen-chick ratio be 
separated from the Prescott Peninsula figures. In 1956 the hen- 
chick ratio at MDC on the basis of 48 birds was 1:1.3. On the 
basis of only 27 MDC captures in 1955, the hen-chick ratio was 
1:2.8. If these samples are adequate, there may prove to be a 
correlation between the spring adult male census which might be 
expected to show a drop in 1957. . 
4g 
