
MISSOURI 
Weather and Water Conditions - 
The spring of 1956 was about 10-days later than average, 
Production Indices - 
A summary of the results of the 1955 nesting survey is shown in Table I. 
This year only 2,222 acres of lake and marsh were censused compared with 
7,110 acres in 1955. Total mileage of stream surveys was 564 miles compared 
with 666 miles in 1955. As in other years, the total nesting attempts of wood 
ducks, mallards, and blue-winged teal are computed as nesting effort per 
census unit. 
Trend data of the wood duck, mallard, and blue-winged teal nesting 
efforts are shown in Tables II and III. As during the past three years, a down- 
ward trend is shown. Small changes in all categories except the average number 
of ducklings per brood will be noted. Itis apparent that the numbers of breeding 
wood ducks in Missouri is still decreasing, although the Significance of the 
small changes from 1955 has not been adequately tested. 
Table I - Nesting Efforts of Wood Duck, Mallard, and Blue-winged Teal - 
Waterfowl Nesting Survey - Missouri - May 15 to. June 15, 1956. 
Brood se. Total Nesting 
2,222 Acres of Lone Lone ' “Total Ave. Yng. Nesting. Effort Per 
Lake & Marsh Drake Hen Pairs No. Yng. /Brd. : Effort ‘Square Mile. 
—ESEoSeooaSEEoeEeoo—————LL————EeEeEESEESESSSESoEEEeeoEEeeee— 
Wood Duck 4 ] 3 3 18 6 11 3.1 
Mallard 1 1 - 1 4 4 3 . 86 
B.W. Teal 1 - 8 8 3 . 86 
Lake & Marsh 
Totals 6 2 4 5 30 6 17 5.1 
564 Miles of Stream 
Wood Duck 19 10 15 23 142 6.1 67 10 
Mallard 5 - l 2 12 6.0 8 Ol 
B.W. Teal 9 aa 8 4 19 4.7 23 . 04 
Stream Totals 33 12 24 29 173 5.9 98 -17 
= ss SS 
Grand Total 39 14 28 34 203 6.0 115 - 
