low, sometimes as much as 2 to 3 feet below 
recent predrought levels. For example, Oak 
Lake, Lenore Lake, and the large marshes 
south of Griswold are still low and in poor 
condition, 
Burning of pond margins appears to have 
been more prevalent during the past dry 
winter and spring than during the previous 
year, often with the result that little or no 
nesting cover remained for the early nesting 
species. Where burning did not occur, how- 
ever, both upland and emergent cover were 
much improved over their 1962 condition. 
Water could frequently be found standing 
throughout the sedge and whitetop vegetation 
zones, and in the wetter districts flooding 
back through willows andterrestrial grasses. 
Destruction of wetland habitat by filling 
as a result of agricultural brush clearing 
operations has been greatly accelerated 
during the past winter. Five ponds located 
within the transects were filled prior to 1962, 
while 14 ponds were filled during the past 
year. This figure includes only those ponds 
whose value to nesting ducks would likely be 
eliminated—many others have been partially 
filled, but are. still probably usable by 
breeding pairs, though at a reduced occupancy 
rate. 
Water conditions varied by region and 
ranged locally from poorer than last year to 
significantly improved over 1960, 
East of La Riviere water conditions are 
poor. Only 9 water bodies were recorded for 
3 transects, a 76 percent reduction belowthe 
43 ponds noted in 1962 and well below the 31 
observed in 1960, The same condition, 
with pond numbers reduced below the 1962 
level, but by a lesser degree, extends west as 
far as Mariapolis - Clearwater, or just into 
the eastern edge of the Tiger Hills. 
Also in poorer condition than in 1960 
was the pothole habitat north of Whitewater 
Lake where pond numbers were recorded as 
still reduced 32 percent below the 1960 level, 
and about the same as in 1961-62, 
These are the only extensive areas where 
a substantial recovery from the recent 
drought was not observed. 
In the important morainic habitat of the 
Tiger Hills and Minnedosa Hills a 22 percent 
increase in water bodies was recorded over 
1962 and 17 percent over 1960. 
The large block of till-plain habitat west 
of St. Lazare ~- Virden - Melita showed a 
profound improvement this spring, with an 
increase of 202 percent in ponds recorded 
over 1962, and 40 percent over 1960. Though 
much of this water was of a temporary 
nature at the time of census, heavy rains 
following the survey should virtually insure 
sufficient water for brood survival. 
Also exhibiting a marked increase in water 
areas was the habitat block oftill-plain south 
of the Minnedosa River and Highway 45 and 
north of Highway 24, This change was 
recorded at 19 percent over 1962 and 36 
percent over 1960, 
Since mid-May heavy rains have been gen- 
eral across southern Manitoba, Rainfall 
ranged from 2,69 inches at Russell to 5,8 
inches at Pierson during the period of May 
21 to June 13, Totaland normal precipitation 
for this period are shown below for the 
various reporting stations in southwest Mani- 
toba: 
Summary of Precipitation May 21 - June 13, 1963 
[in inches 3 
Station Total 
Rivers 3.47 
Boissavain 3.80 
Brandon 3.03 
Cypress River 2.74 
Pilot Mound 4.68 
Pierson 5,80 
Russell 2,69 
Virden 375-] 
Greatest rainfall appears to have occurred 
where permanent brood water was in shortest 
supply—in the extreme southwest. 
Phenology was about average as compared 
with the past 3 years, but considerably behind 
44 
Normal Departure from normal 
2.28 +119 
2.33 + 1,57 
2.20 + 0.83 
2.13 + 0,61 
-?. eo 
2519 + 3,61 
1,67 + 1,02 
2.25 + 1.26 
the early seasons of 1958-59, Vegetative 
development at the beginning of the survey 
period was slightly ahead of 1961-62. Sub- 
sequently, cool, wet weather slowed develop- 
ment to about the same level as last year, 
. +» sleds 
