SOUTHERN ALBERTA, SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN, AND SOUTHERN MAINT TORA 
(@UCKS UNLIMITED SURVEYS) —~ ie te es 2 ee 
Weather and Water Conditions 
In most districts in southern Alberta the number of water 
areas per sq. mile during May was the lowest recorded. The pro- 
vincial average was 5.0 against a previous low of 8.7 in 1958. 
In southern Saskatchewan average number of water areas 
during May was reduced to 3.7 per sq. mile, the lowest in the 7 
years of record. Previous lows were 8.2 in 1954 and 8.3 in 1958. 
In southern Manitoba water levels were apparently more 
precarious south of Highway #1 than north. ‘Thirty transects in 
the south averaged only 3.5 areas holding water per sq. mile, 
while 32 transects north of Highway #1 averaged 18.7 wet areas 
per sq. mile. There was no water whatever on three of the south- 
ern transects, while this condition was not encountered in the 
north. The general picture seems to show water levels much 
reduced when compared with conditions existing over the past few 
years, but, in reality, these levels are probably just returning 
to normal after a period of abnormally high water. 
The most alarming habitat feature, obvious even in 
casual observation, was the amount of emergent vegetation that has 
been stranded by receding water levels. Very few potholes 
offered alequate over-water nesting sites. Thus such species as 
canvasback, redhead and ruddy may find this requisite of breeding 
habitat at.a premium. On the other hand, conditions for upland 
nesters seem excellent, 
Breeding Population Indices 
The Alberta transects show a decrease in breeding pairs 
of 5.7 percent which is best expressed as unchanged, 
The southeast side of the Province from the United States 
Border to Castor showed a 22 percent decrease. The southwest 
showed a decrease of 11 percent from 1958 but remained just about 
at the 9-year average for the district. From Camrose north, there 
was an overall increase of 17 percent. The information collected 
is summarized in Table l. 
- The Saskatchewan transects show a decrease in the number 
of breeding pairs of waterfowl of 32 percent. The decrease 
occurred in both the prairie and aspen parkland and while an in- 
crease was registered on the new northern transects from Lloydminster 
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