
over the average of the past four years. Stratum "A"'s duck total 
index was the same as last year, while Stratum "B" showed a decline 
of 11.9 percent. Note Tables 2 and 3 for details. 
Of particular interest was the noted decline in divers 
while generally the surface ducks held their own. Except for 
pintails, the comparison to last year showed surface ducks with 
an increase or no change. Of the more numerous species of divers, 
showing a loss of 20 percent or more from last year, were scaup, 
canvasback, redheads, and ringnecks. Pintails were down 33.8 percent 
from last year and down 10 percent from the four-year average. 
Mallards indicated no change from last year and a 25.1 percent 
increase over the four-year average. Blue-wing teal were up from 
last year by 17.9 percent, remembering 1956 was a late year and 
no doubt many blue wings had not arrived in the area in the early 
portions of the survey. Blue wings showed a decrease from the 
four-year average by 7.3 percent. 
Coots were definitely down by a considerable amount. 
Their index last year was 40,000 compared to 20,800 for 1957, a 
decline of 48 percent. They were also down 19.1 percent fram the 
four-year average. 
Table 2 = Species Indices By Stratum, Waterfowl Populations of 
Southern Manitoba, May 1957 | 
Species Stratum "A" Stratum "B" Total 
Pintail 46 ,500 52,800 99 , 300 
Mallard 22h ,600 275,400 500 ,000 
Baldpate 16 ,800 7,900 2h , 700 
Shoveler 18,900 19,400 38 , 300 
Gadwall 4,200 1,300 5,500 
BW. Teal 35,400 27 , 300 62 ,700 
GoW. Teal 2,100 1,300 3,400 


Surface Ducks 348 , 500 385,400 733,900 


Scaup 28 ,500 31,700 60 ,200 
Canvasback 2h ,800 6 ,600 31, 
Redhead 9,000 7,900 16,900 
Ringneck 2,900 900 3,800 
Ruddy k , 300 2,700 7,000 
Goldeneye 1,900 3,500 5,400 
Bufflehead 400 - 400 
Scoter = 1,300 1,300 

Cont de 
78 
