
| | Potential Breeders Per Percent 
Year | Lineal Mile Wood Ducks 
1954 12. 31 4.7 
1955 11.00 6.4 
1956 11.49 2.4% 
* Flood conditions at several census areas seriously affected census— 
results as ducks were back in flooded timber off regular census 
route. As an example, the count on the Kalamazoo River bottom 
lands was 48 wood ducks in 1955 and only 2 this spring. 
Although floods had an effect on census data it is important to note that 
the average number of breeders of all ducks remained comparable to the past 
four years while the percent of wood ducks observed decreased. 
Production Indices - 
Brood censuses were made on the same sample check areas to obtain 
an index of the success of the productive period. 
Comparing the results of this year's brood census with those obtained 
in previous years, good production is indicated. The number of broods 
observed per lineal mile has been exceeded only twice in the past seven years. 
The average size of the broods remained comparable to the past seven-year: 
average. This would indicate that weather had not been a serious influence. 
Comparisons are shown below: 
Broods Per Hens & Yng./ Bachelor Ducks Average Size 
Year Lineal Mile Lineal Mile ' Per Lineal Mi. of Brds. Observed 
1949 -47 2.75 6.50 6.00 
1950 . 34 2.32 5.50 — 5.87 
1951 . 35 2.20 3.31 5.76 
1952 70 3.92 3.21 4.60 
1953 51 3.63 4.32 - - 6.10 
1954 . 20 1.67 4.60 6.24 
1955 . 64 4.65 5.09 6.28 
1956 53 3.67 4.40 5. 86 
72 
