INDIANA 
Breeding Population Indices 
Three streams section: (Maumee, Mississinewa, and thvachtekeny 
ohn hits 47 stream miles were covered between April 24 and May 9 as has 
been done in the years 1952 through 1959, except for the one year, 195}. 
Eighty-one males and 63 female wood ducks were observed this year. 
Observed males were 3.6 percent below the figure for 1958, but 32 per- 
cent above the previous six-year average. Observed females were 70 per- 
cent above those of 1958, and 146 percent above the average. No wood 
duck broods were observed on the preliminary survey for the second year 
in succession. 
Production Indices 
Nine stream sections (Maumee, Elkhart, Big Blue, West Fork of 
the White, Salt, Iroquois, Eel and Muscatatuck) totaling 143 stream miles 
have been covered yearly between May 22 and June 30 since 1950. A total 
of 116 wood duck broods was observed this year (Table 1). This brood 
count is seven percent above that of 1958, and 36 percent above the 
previous six-year average. Conditions for brood counts were considered 
good on all except the Muscatatuck section, where heavy torrential rains 
kept the study leader and assistant from starting count at sunrise. | 
This section was covered that day, May 26, starting approximately at 
9:30 a.m. Thirty-five broods were observed on this coverage and the 
validity of the float doubted when compared to the 46 brood figure for 
1958 and average figure of 27.3. <A second coverage was made on this 
section on June 6 and at that time 38 broods were observed. One group — 
of 16 wood duck ducklings observed each time in approximately the same 
location was determined to be two broods instead of one as first thought. 
No females were observed with this group on first sighting, but two were 
seen accompanying broods on second trip. 
Whole counts were recorded on 80 of the 116 broods. Brood 
size averaged 8.5, and ranged from one to 16 (Figure 1). Brood age 
distribution for the 116 broods indicates timing of surveys was fair to 
good, with a slight leaning to the younger age groups. 
Conclusions 
All conditions indicate another successful reproductive 
season for the wood duck in Indiana. Low water levels which prevailed 
on all counts again, as in 1958, undoubtedly created conditions for 
abnormally complete counts, and results of field work should be 
considered from that viewpoint. 
For the fourth successive year there has: been an increase 
in the wood duck brood count index, since the low of 1955. 
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