Conclusions 
Water conditions were improved in two 
areas of the glaciated subdivisions and de- 
clined in the other two. Great improvement 
in water condition was noted in the unglacia- 
ted portion of the State. Late water con- 
ditions in all areas improved, 
Breeding populations of ducks was up 14 
percent from last year and in two of the 
physiographic areas it was abovethe 14-year 
average. 
The unglaciated prairie showed the greatest 
increase in duck numbers. One trend area 
more than doubled and the waterfowl index 
was the highest recorded. This should be 
one of the largest fall flights of ducks from 
the Central Flyway portion of Montana in 
recent years. 
Canada goose population and production 
trends were up inallflockunits inthe Central 
Flyway. The production in the Hi-Line Unit 
was the largest ever recorded. The Flathead 
flock showed another decrease from last 
year. 
No duck surveys were conducted in the 
Pacific Flyway portion of Montana, 
Tri-State Area 
(North and South Dakota 
and Minnesota) 
Data supplied by Glenn Orton, David Fisher, 
Robert Wheeler, Raymond Buller and Gerald 
Pospichal, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and 
Wildlife 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
The tri-State area entered the winter 
period with pothole levels in the best con- 
dition noted in the last several years. Snow 
cover was light over most of the Dakotas 
and western Minnesota during the winter of 
1963-63. Unseasonably warm weather during 
late February and early March melted accu- 
mulated snows without a great amount of 
runoff. As spring advanced, moderate to 
heavy rainfall occurred over most of the 
central and eastern strata and pothole levels 
recovered to where they ranged from goodto 
excellent when the ducks arrived. 
May temperatures averaged below normal 
over the entire survey area. Alowof 14° was 
reached on May 22 in central North Dakota 
breaking all-time records. May frosts caused 
crop damage over parts of North Dakota but 
i 
Dakota. 
not to the extent that extensive replanting 
was necessary. High winds and intermittent 
rainstorms delayed field operations for 2 
days. Otherwise, no operational problems 
were encountered, 
Planting of cereal grains, flax and corn, 
was ahead of schedule. Growth of winter 
wheat was well advanced and the general 
crop outlook appeared favorable. 
As indicated in the table D-4, p. 106, water 
conditions were considerably improved, an 
increase of 18 percent over last year and 51 
percent over the average of the previous 5 
years, In someareas, particularly the north- 
western part of North Dakota, levels were 
low and potholes will be dry by mid-June 
unless supplemented by spring rains, Over- 
water nesting habitat showed good recovery, 
In some instances, this cover, and the new 
emergent vegetation which was making rapid 
growth, hindered aerial observations. Spring 
burning was in evidencethis year inharvested 
small grain fields and soil bank lands, more 
so in North Dakota than South Dakota. Stock 
ponds in South Dakota were holding maximum 
water levels again this year. 
Normal to slightly below normal tem- 
peratures prevailed over the survey area 
from late May until late June. Scattered 
heavy rainfall occurred throughout the tri- 
State area and by mid-June, water levels were 
more favorable than in late April and early 
May, except for scattered districts through- 
out central South Dakota and northeast North 
These conditions prevailed until 
late June when temperatures rose to the 
midnineties and continuing hot, dry winds 
caused rapid water loss, especially in the 
smaller potholes. Local storms with high 
winds, rain, and hail caused severe crop 
damage in eastern South Dakota, western 
Minnesota, and southeastern North Dakota. 
Generally, bumper crops were predicted for 
most parts of the tri-State area, including 
both small grains and row crops. The 
small grain harvest begun in south central 
South Dakota by July 7, moved rapidly 
northward by the end of the survey period. 
Breeding Population Indexes 
Table E-19, (p. 121), showstrends in popu- 
lation indexes by species for the years 1959- 
63. Table E-20, (p. 121) lists comparative 
breeding population indexes by species and 
stratum with comparisons to 1962 and to the 
previous 5-year average. Comparative lone 
32 
