BREEDING GROUND SURVEY DATA PACIFIC FLYWAY 
ALASKA 
Weather and Water Conditions 

Winter weather was exceptionally mild in Alaska with mich less snow 
than normal. Following low precipitation of the year before, this left the 
surface water development in the lowest condition recorded for the past several 
years. Usually there is too much surface water in some areas for optimm 
nesting conditions. Under no foreseeable circumstances could lack of water 
be a limiting factor in the far north,however. 
The spring breakup was earlier than usual in all of Alaska except 
on the Seward Peninsula, Kotzebue Sound and Arctic coast. In these north- 
westward areas the breakup did not occur until the first week in June. 
Consequently, many of the ducks were still concentrated near the river mouths 
and other small areas of open water. Following the breakup, the weather 
continued warm and dry creating excellent nesting conditions. 
Breeding Population Indices 
All the data summarized in the accompanying tables are comparable 
between 1957 and 1958. An accounting has been made for the change in observers. 
There was a sizeable increase in all the major species except bufflehead and 
canvasback. The latter species were down about 20 percent and 80 percent, 
respectively, but neither contribute appreciably to the total population under 
normal conditions. Overall the total breeding population was up 25 percent, 
geme ducks and non-game species in equal proportions. Pintails and widgeons 
showed the greatest increase, 33 percent and 37 percent, respectively. (Table 2) 
Table 3 summarizes the species composition. The non-game species 
comprise roughly one-third of the total breeding population as derived from 
aerial surveys. 
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