ATLANTIC FLYWAY 
MAINE 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Ice-out dates and general phenological conditions were consider- 
ably earlier than those of 1956 and were somewhat ahead of the long-term 
average. Early season phenology was nearly a month advanced from a 
year ago; that of the latter part of the breeding season was progressively 
less advanced. Temperatures were generally above average from March 
through June; this was particularly noticeable in April and May. Precipi- 
tation was below normal throughout the entire period, particularly in 
southern Maine and the coastal belt. In northern Maine, frequent, but well 
spaced rainfalls occurred in June and the first-half of July. 
Breeding Population Data 
Resident waterfowl on the Maine study areas as a whoe were 
more numerous than a year ago. All species showed slight to moderate 
increases with the exception of the green-winged teal. The increase in 
black ducks, although slight, was gratifying in view of three consecutive 
years of population declines recorded for this species. The apparent 
increase in the American goldeneye is the first recorded in many years. 
The bird is still relatively uncommon as a breeder throughout northern, 
eastern and central Maine. 
The complete census data by study areas are present in the 
following table. In summary, the status of the initial population of the six 
species of breeding game ducks is as follows: 
Waterfowl Census Data (Number of Breeding Pairs) 
Black Ducks Ringneck Ducks Wood Ducks 
Study Areas 1956 1957 1956 _. 1957. -1956 1957 
St. John R., Van Buren 
Madawaska. 12 14 - - 3 3 
Portage Lake, Portage 4 5 13 9 1 2 
Meduxnekeag Stream, 
Hodgdon 5 6 ~ ~ 1 2 
Pocamoonshine-Crawford 
Lakes | 28 35 40 60 3 6 
St. Croix R., Calais- 
Baring 14 13 “ ~ 2 2 
Barn Meadow, Calais 8 7 6 7 - - 

Continued -- 
