are very dry, while others, even in the more arid eastern prairies, are well-. 
watered. The month of May has been dry throughout the Province and water areas 
were rapidly disappearing in the southern prairies and southeastern parklands as 
the aerial breeding pair survey came to an end. 
In the survey area as a whole, the May pond index for 1956 was 1, om 700 
as compared to 1, 242,900 in 1955, a decrease of 15 percent. 
In mid-June general rains fell throughout the Province, saving the farmers 
from an imminent drought, but in no way improving the water conditions in most of 
Stratum A and all of C, except as it raised water levels in permanent lakes. In 
the parkland, especially in the northeastern areas, water levels not only improved 
in permanent lakes, but temporary ponds were filled again. By the end of June, 
the parklands were in as good a condition as in early May. However, rains con- 
tinued to fall in the northeastern parklands, until the land was literally flooded. 
Water levels in some lakes and ponds where water gauges have been established 
rose from 1zZ to 14 inches. This factor has had a noticeable effect on production 
due to nest flooding and the wide dispersal of broods already hatched. 
The July water index for the three stratum combined was one percent 
better than in 1955, 
Breeding Population Indices - 
Following are the breeding population indices obtained during the May 
aerial survey: 

Comparison of Aerial Waterfowl Population Indices - 1955 - 1956. 
Stratum A Stratum B 
ne ee, 1955 1956 1955 1956 
Total Area Square Miles 22, 088 22,088 26; 100 26,109 
Sample Square Miles 526.5 526.5 382.5 382.5 
Total Ducks Seen 28,914 26, 316 17,442 16,980 
Total Ducks Per Square Mi. 54.9 50.0 45.6 44.4 
Index in Total Ducks 1,212, 942 1,103,956 1, 204,194 1,165, 395 
Percent Change = 9.0% - 3.2% 
airy ~ Stratum=C | Province 7 
1955 1956 1955 1956 
Total Area Square Miles 16,112 16,112 64, 300 64, 300 
Sample Square Miles 171.0 171.0 1080.0 1080.0 
Total Ducks Seen 4, 390 3,596 60, 746 46, 892 
Total Ducks Per Square Mi. 25.4 21.0 46.9 43.4 
Index in Total Ducks 413,625 338, 815 2,830,761 2, 608, 166 
Percent Change - 18.1% = 7.9% 


14 
