CENTRAL FLYWAY 
Breeding Ground Survey Data 
SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN 
Weather and Water Conditions 
We faced a habitat in Southern Saskatchewan this spring that was 
generally dry. The past winter had practically no snow. Carry-over fall 
moisture was sufficient for starting agriculture crops but the pond index 
for May 1958 was down almost 30% from the average of 1949 to 1953. Our 
figures show a slight increase in ponds over last year. This may be due 
to the change in observers or the local increases in ponds in a few 
isolated areas. All indications point toward a decline pond condition. 
May was exceptionally dry with practically no rain throughout 
the southern portion of the province. A few showers did nothing for the 
pothole situation. In addition May was unusually warm and windy. The 
worst dust storms in years were noted on May 12 and 13 and again on 
May 17. This all added to losses in ponds. 
The prolonged and increasing drouth continued through the 
summer months with adverse effects on waterfowl production as well as 
farm crops. Practically no rain fell during these months, except for 
occasional showers which had practically no beneficial effect for nesting 
waterfowl. The first general rain occurred on July 12th and 13th and left - 
in its wake as much as four inces of moisture in a few localities. Except 
for the extreme southern portion of the province the results indicated Ss 
to is inches of moisture. 
The overall picture showed a decrease in July ponds of 39% from 
last year. last year the pond index stood at 1,254,000 while this year 
it was at 764,900. As mentioned this was the lowest in the past seven 
years of which we have data for. 
All strata were down from last year, the largest decline being 
in A-West, A-East and B-East. 2-West and C showed little decline from 
last year. Local rain in those areas appeared to have changed the situa- 
tion little from last year, when they were considered to be quite dry 
then. It now appears that only the deeper and more permanent type ponds 
will hold up for the remainder of the season. 
Breeding Population Indices 
The breeding population index came out to 5,193,900 for all 
ducks. This compares very favorably with last year. It was off about 
2% which is not measurable. Actually the total number of ducks was 
exceeded only by the years 1955 and 1956 in the past five years. 
Of particular interest was the large increase in mallards. 
Mallards showed a 39% increase over 1957 and the highest population ever 
recorded on our transect surveys. On the’ other hand the pintail popula- 
tion was off 33% from last year and down 15% from the 1949 to 1953 aver- 
age. Baldpates showed a substantial increase over last year. Of the 
other species, and particularly divers, generally they indicated sub- 
stantial decreases from last year. Table ITI gives a run-down on gains 
and losses. 53 
