Ground crews reported a fairly successful 
early nesting success in stratum C, With 
this in mind, it is possible we could have 
missed some class III flying broods. These 
would have been few in number and would not 
have changed the overall Provincial picture. 
Along this same line heavy vegetation ob- 
scured some broods from the aerial ob- 
servers. However, checking air dataagainst 
ground data from the ground crews, on the 
air-ground visibility transects, it did not 
reveal any great discrepancies. The above 
two factors together would probably weigh 
the broods a little heavier than the data 
show. 
Brood size was up this year. In 1963 
the average class II and III brood size 
was 5.4 (table F-18, p. 146) compared to 
4.9 in 1062 and 5.1 (1952 - 1962) average. 
This is contrary to what was expected ina 
fairly unsuccessful early nesting attempt. 
It may be that larger numbers of ducklings 
in class II broods offset the smaller numbers 
in class III, Ground crews reported a great 
many large numbered class I and II broods 
this year and this may well be the answer, 
Coot broods were up over last year but 
still well below the long-term average, 
Coots must be considered on their overall 
widespread range and their adaptability to 
water conditions, Therefore, the indications 
in this area may mean very little when con- 
sidering their overall status. 
The index for 1963 was good. It stood at 
67,600 compared to 19,800 for 1962, This 
was really a wonderful outlook for late- 
nesting species over 1962, It wasalso greater 
than the 1961 index, but did not come up to 
any years previous to 1961. It was still 
33.3 percent under the 5-year average of 
1958-1962. All species showed greater po- 
tential than in 1962, Compared to the 5-year 
average the species showing increases or 
greater late nesting potential were gadwall, 
green-winged teal, redheads, and ring-necked 
ducks. From ground reports blue-winged 
teal should also be in better late-nesting 
condition than the air data indicated. 
Reports from ground crews, running air- 
ground visibility checks, indicated greater 
numbers of singles and drakes in the heavy 
vegetation than the air crews were seeing. 
These sightings were far greater in number 
than the discrepancies inthe brood air- ground 
check, This leads to the belief that the heavy 
cover this year did reduce the air crews’ 
ability to pick up the adult birds. There- 
fore, the aerial late nesting-index data are 
30 
smaller in proportion to what it would 5 
in a normal year. As a result, the tae 
nesting potential will be larger than what the 
aerial figures indicate, . 
Conclusions 
Overall conditions appeared to warrant a 
ray of hope and optimism. The pond index ig 
better than 1959 and 1961 but still down 
from 1962, The poor quality of the water 
depth this year can be an important facto» 
It has stopped numbers of ducks and they are 
nesting (lone drake percent indicator), All 
the sign posts point toward a wet spring and 
an early summer but if it does not mate. 
rialize, look for a considerable reduction, in 
the hatch. The duck population index is up 
but only slightly, 9.8 percent over last year 
and still 58.4 percent below the long-term 
average. This low number must be care. 
fully weighed because in better years jp 
southern Saskatchewan there was upwards to 
a 5 and 6 million duck index. The million 
and a half index this year is 5 million below 
the peak of 6 1/2 million in 1956, There. 
fore, we now have only 23 percent of the 
peak population engaged in production, The 
May ‘‘Waterfowl Crop Outlook Chart’’ indi. 
cates another year with an unsatisfactory 
outlook for the fall flight from this area, 
The outlook is slightly better than 196) 
and 1962 but even so, not for much ofa 
crop. 
This year the outlook is one of cautioug 
optimism. Conditions since May have been 
good, A favorable increase in population is 
expected. Production broods seen are upand 
the late nesting index is good. Water condi- 
tions were improving and the July pond index 
was considerably higher than last year and 
the past 5-year averages. The early nestera 
have not improved as much as the late nesters, 
Redheads and canvasbacks appear to be im- 
proving. Gadwall should be more numerous, 
Considering all the factors, it would appear 
that the fall flight from southern Saskatchewan 
will be better than 1961 and 1962 but not as 
good as 1960, The crop forecast index stands 
at 81. According to past indexes this is still 
an unsatisfactory outlook. However, con- 
sidering the poor visibility this year in 
registering the late nesting index, the outlook 
may turn out to be satisfactory. 
One thing to remember, even though the 
production outlook is promising, the May 
population index is still low. All indications 
