CENTRAL FLYWAY 
Summary of Central Flyway Waterfowl Indices 
Wintering waterfowl in the CENTRAL FLYWAY increased this year 
to the highest point they have reached-during the past several years. 
Waterfowl -The 1956 index is 30 pércent above the average for the seven-year 
period 1950-1956 and compared to individual years is: 
39 percent above 1955 
12 percent above 1954 
43 percent above 1953 
28 percent above 1952 
70 percent above 1951 
45 percent above 1950 
Ducks - The 1956 duck index is 32 percent above the average for the seven- 
year period 1950-1956 and compared to individual years is: 
36 percentabove 1955 
21 percent above 1954 
40 percent above 1953 
30 percent above 1952 
66 percent above 1951 
51 percent above 1950 
Among the ducks, the indices are: 
1. About the same for: mallard and blue-winged teal. 
2. Noticeably up for: pintail, redhead, scaup, 
baldpate, gadwall, and canvasback. 
3. Noticeably down for: shoveler. 
Geese - The population index for geese for 1956 is 16 percent above the 
average for the past seven years and compared to individual 
years,is: 
33 percent above 1955 
4 percent below 1954 
35 percent above 1953 
69 percent above 1952 
. 37 percent above 1951 
: 14 percent below 1950 
Among the geese, there were noticeable increases in snows and 
‘Canadas. White-fronts decreased, while blues remained about the same. 
37 
