


ATLANTIC FLYWAY 
Waterfowl Census Data (Number of Breeding Pairs) - Continued. 
Study Blk. Ducks Ringneck D. Wood Ducks 
Area _ 1955 1956 1955 1956 1955 1956 
Scammon Pond, Eastbrook 7 4 6 6 0 3 
Penobscot R., Lincoln- : 
Enfield 16 17 - - 6 6 
Davis -Holbrook Thorough- 
fare, Eddington 6 5 4 1 = 2 
Snake Pond, Brooksville - - 3 2 ~ - 
Goose River, Belfast- 
Swanville . 16 14 23 15 ] 2 
Ruffingham Meadow, Searsmont- - - - 4 2 
ee 
Total of 18 Areas 144 136 138 112 26 27 
| (-6%) (-19%) (+4%) 
Production Indices - 
Data from brood counts.are inconclusive at this time with only 41 com- 
plete counts of aged broods available by the end of the second week of July. 
However, these figures indicate larger sized broods than a year ago, especially 
of those beyond the downy. stage. This appears to be the result of more stabilized 
water levels and more favorable rearing cover. Thus, while fewer broods are 
being produced this year, survival of the ducklings that have hatched is better to 
date. | | 
Conclusions - 
Lowered initial breeding populations and below average nesting success 
will result in considerably fewer broods than usual. This situation will be only 
partially offset by increased duckling survival. Thus, insofar as can be judged 
at this early date, the productivity of waterfowl in northern, eastern, and central 
Maine can be expected to be less than a year ago. 
NORTHEASTERN STATES 
Weather and Water Conditions - 
Precipitation was above normal in all the northeast during April to mid- 
May. Temperatures during this period were below normal, resulting in seasonally 
late snows in the colder portions of the northeast. Due to the low nightly tempera- 
tures severe freshets were held to a minimum, although flat agricultural farmlands 
remained flooded into mid-May. 
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