ALASKA 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Spring break-up was about two weeks later than normal 
north and east of a line from Anchorage to Kotzebue. To the 
south and west the break-up appeared to be on schedule. With 
the weather having broken, however, the season advanced very 
rapidly creating optimum nesting conditions. Except for a small 
flooded area on the Iditarod Flats adjacent to the Innoko River 
the habitat everywhere appeared to be in an ideal condition. A 
period of unprecedented good weather was experienced during the 
survey, especially along the Bering Sea coast from Bristol Bay 
northward. Not one day was lost to weather and consequently the 
survey was accomplished in the shortest period of time to date. 
Breeding Population Indices 
Overall there was no significant change in the total 
breeding population index. There were changes of definite sig- 
nificance in relative abundance of the various species, however, 
and in geographical diatribution. Scoter, eider and old squaw 
showed large reductions particularly on the Yukon Delta and in 
Bristol Bay. Likewlse scaup were reduced to 4a marked degree in 
these two areas, but an increase of scaup elsewhere, held the 
total scaup reduction to about ten percent. There was a size- 
able reduction of widgeon in the coastal areas with moderate 
increases in the interior not sufficient to offset the coastal 
losses. Widgeon were down about 40 percent. Teal and shoveller 
also showed a loss but they are tallied in insignificant numbers, 
Pintail, mallard, canvasback and goldeneye made 
remarkable gains even in the coastal areas where the other 
species declined. The gain or loss indicated in each area of 
reference is for total ducks, game and non-game species combined. 
Under ideal weather conditions an intensive coverage 
of the Yukon Delta brant nesting area was flown on May 31. Very 
few brant were present at the time although the cackling geese 
appeared to be in normal abundance, Refuge Supervisor Spencer 
estimated about 40,000 brant at Izembek Bay on May 27, however. 
This appears to be a rather delayed migration for the species. 
It was very apparent during the survey that the 
isolated, normally marginal habitat lying outside the boundaries 
of the survey areas was supporting many more mallards, pinteail 
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