WINTER SURVEY 
Data supplied by Raymond J. Buller, 
Central Flyway Representative 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 
Weather conditions during the survey were 
such that visibility was excellent and coverage 
completed in a minimum of time throughout 
all sections of the Flyway except eastern 
Oklahoma and western Wyoming. Strong winds 
and turbulent air in southwest Texas neces- 
sitated the use of ground counts instead of 
aerial coverage. Large water dreas in all 
States except Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas 
were generally covered with ice, and winter- 
ing waterfowl were concentrated onthe larger 
rivers, spring-fed lakes, and open drain 
ditches, Inclement weather and unavailability 
of aircraft, and State personnel caused a 
delay in completing the survey in eastern 
Oklahoma until January 23, High winds and 
50° weather made it impossible to complete 
the survey in Wyoming on schedule, A record- 
breaking cold wave and blizzard conditions 
struck the Texas Panhandle 2 days after 
the survey was initiated; many water areas 
were frozen and the wintering population 
decreased approximately 50 percent during 
the period. 
Droubht conditions prevailed along the 
lower Texas coast; this area has not received 
appreciable amounts of precipitation since 
Hurricane Carla in September 1961. 
Drought conditions were also reported by 
the Bureau crew that covered the east coast 
and interior Mexico. Coastal marshes from 
Tampico to the tip of Yucatan were almost 
dry. Increased oil exploration and drilling 
operations are creating pollution problems 
along the coast. Many of the water areas in 
interior Mexico were dry or nearly dry. 
Several areas were not covered due to weather 
and operational difficulties. 
Weather and habitat conditions in the 
northern portion of the Flyway during the fall 
and early winter months were ideal for migra- 
ting and wintering birds. Mild temperatures, 
open water, and abundant food supplies in 
harvested grain fields caused birds to linger 
in migration, Fall flights of both ducks and 
geese en route to winter concentration areas 
in the southern portion of the Flyway were 
delayed a month or more, Drought conditions 
existed on the upper Texas coast until late 
November, when 5 inches of rain fell. This 
rainfall and subsequent rains made habitat 
conditions ideal by late December; mottled 
duck nesting habitat vastly improved, 
BREEDING GROUND SURVEY 
SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN 
Data supplied by Rossalius C. Hanson 
and Donald E. Wieland, 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Upon completion of the survey it was found 
that actually the only stratum that showed an 
increase in pond numbers, when compared to 
last year, was A-East, It was up 56 percent, 
All other strata showed definite decreases, 
with a total overall decrease of 28.7 per- 
cent from last year. The total pond index 
in 1963 stood at 960,400 compared to 1,347,300 
in 1962, and 588,900 in 1961. Comparing it 
27 
to the long-term average of 1,489,500 ponds 
are down 35.5 percent this year from the 
long-term average, Only during 1959 and 
1961 were there fewer ponds. These 2 
years, indexes were 783,400 and ,588,900, 
respectively. 
One of the major factors which will deter- 
mine the production this yearasinpastyears 
of low water is the lasting quality of the 
water present in May. This year water 
quality in the ponds is poor, It was found 
that many of the ponds had 6 inches or less 
of water, with evident duck usage, In many 
instances no permanent ponds were in evi- 
dence in the near vicinity. This might develop 
as a real trap for broods, If spring is cool 
enough, and an éarly summer with réplenish- 
ing rains it may bring the broods to maturity 
in some of these areas, Fast experience has 
