drake indexes for the years 1959 through 
1963 are listed on table E-21(p. 122). The 
77.7 percent of lone drakes in the survey 
area indicated the nesting effort was well 
advanced. 
As indicated in table E-~20, total dabblers 
showed an increase of 32 percent over 1962 
and 57 percent over the 6-year average. 
Mallards, gadwall, and blue-winged teal in- 
creased 79 percent, 120 percent, and 55 per- 
cent from 1962 and showed respective in- 
creases of 60 percent, 191 percent, and 70 
percent from the 6-year average. Pintail 
and shovelers dropped 32 percent and 14 
percent from 1962, Pintail populations were 
about equal to the long-term average while 
shovelers were 59 percent above, American 
widgeon and green-winged teal were rela- 
tively scarce and showed drops from 1962. 
With the improved habitat conditions, total 
divers showed a 26 percent increase over 1962 
and a substantial increase of 70 percent over 
the 6-year average, Redheads showed in- 
creases 39 percent and 105 percent, Canvas- 
backs increased 350 percent over 1962 and 
50 percent over the long-termaverage, Rela- 
tive numbers of both of these species were 
small, 
In summary, the total duck index was 32 
percent above 1962 and 58 percent above the 
6-year average. Coot were 43 percent below 
1962 “and 2 percent above the average. 
Production Indexes 
From all indications early nesting efforts 
were highly successful, The tri-State July 
waterfowl brood index, at 108,000 was the 
highest recorded since this survey was or- 
ganized, Total duck broods increased 45 
percent over 1962 and 56 percent over the 5- 
year average. Average brood size in 1962 
was 5.2 as compared to 3.4 in 1962. 
broods increased 3 percent from 1962 and 21 
percent over the average. Ground observa- 
tions indicated that this coot index could be 
much higher than aerial observations indi- 
cated. 
The 1963 July water index showed a drop 
of 28 percent from May. July levels, how- 
“ever, were 7 percent above 1962 and 3 percent 
above the 2-year average, Vegetative cover 
was rank and hindered aerial observations 
in most of the tri-State area, Soil moisture 
has greatly improved and brightens the out- 
look for next year if normal fall weather 
conditions prevail. 
Coot: 
33 
By its decline, the late-nesting index 
graphically supports the high brood index. 
As compared to 1962, the late-nesting index 
for all ducks showed a 40 percent decline. 
Dabblers which make up approximately 75 
percent of the total population showed a 
decline of 50 percent as compared to 1962. 
Of the dabblers, late nesting indexes for the 
particular species are listed as follows as 
compared to 1962 and the 5-year average: 
mallard, -35, -0.3; gadwall, -28, +48; blue- 
winged teal, -64, -9; pintail, -70, -40. The 
late nesting index for divers showed a +17 
percent increase over 1962 and a 62 percent 
increase over the long-termaverage. Species 
represented were mainly redhead and ruddy 
ducks, Redheads showed a decline of 39 
percent from 1962 and an increase of 55 
percent from the long-term average. Late 
nesting ruddys were 95 percent above 1962 
and 97 percent over the average. Very few 
canvasbacks were observed either on or off 
transect. Most of the pintail and mallard 
broods observed were inlate class II and class 
III ages. This, plus the absence oflone drakes 
and mallards, further substantiates the suc- 
cess of the early nesting efforts, (Tables 
F-20 and F-21, pp. 148 and 149). 
Conclusions 
The spring of 1963 showed a substantial 
improvement in waterfowl habitat conditions 
in the Dakotas and Minnesota over 1962. 
Breeding populations of the more important 
species (mallards, gadwall, blue-winged teal, 
pintail, canvasback and redheads) were above 
long-term averages and should contribute to 
production greater than last year. During 
May 1962 very heavy rains covered the entire 
tri-State area and a substantial part of the 
early nesting effort, particularly mallards, 
were flooded out. During May of 1963, inter- 
mittent heavy rains dropped up to 5 inches 
of moisture in several sections of South 
Dakota. 
Water conditions showed minor improve- 
ments over 1962 and the long-term average. 
Birds were already settled at the time the 
late spring rains arrived. There was no 
general flooding as occurred in 1962. 
Despite late June and early July water 
losses, a sufficient number of brood areas 
remain to carry the broods through to flying 
age. Ground observations and success of 
banding crews in the tri-State area have 
helped to confirm the aerial observations. 
