
Most aspens were observed to be in the 
‘fmouse-ear’’ stage of leaf development. 
The progress of the survey from southwest 
to northeast just about kept pace with ad- 
vancing phenological development, except in 
the Riding Mountain area where many aspens 
were still without leaves at termination of 
the survey. New cattail and sedge growths 
were high enough to interfere with visi- 
bility, probably to a greater degree than in 
1962, 
Breeding Population Indexes 
Spring migration began at least 2 weeks 
earlier than last year, with mallards and pin- 
tails common in southern Manitoba by April 
1, 
The warm period of April 12 to 15 likely 
initiated nesting in the mallard and pintail; 
some hens were laying by April 17, By the 
last week in April, the majority of the mal- 
lard and pintail hens appeared to be laying, 
while some hens were already incubating, 
Nesting chronology in the two species ap- 
peared to be advanced at least 1 week ahead 
of 1962 and 2 to 3 weeks ahead of 1961, 
Canvasback nesting chronology appeared 
to be similar to, or slightly ahead of, that of 
the mallard and pintail, By mid-May can- 
vasbackw males were common in groups of 
four to five, with occasional larger groups 
observed. 
Some blue-winged teal hens were laying by 
May 15, though most were still in the pre- 
laying phase of the breeding cycle at that 
time, 
The scaup migration appeared to have 
largely terminated by the time the transects 
were run—fewer large groups were seenthan 
in 1962, 
The lone drake index (percent of indicated 
pairs made up of lone drakes or small 
groups of drakes) for the mallard, pintail and 
canvasback shows nesting chronology to be 
advanced ahead of 1961 and 1962 and about 
the same as in 1960 (table E-31, p.128), 
Late May and early June were cool and 
wet, Light snow was general in southern 
Manitoba, May 18-20. Whether this was 
severe enough to affect nesting success and 
retard hatching of the mallard, pintail and 
canvasback is not yet apparent. 
Waterfowl breeding population indexes for 
1960-63 are given in tables E-32, and E-33, 
pp. 128 and 129, The total waterfowl index was 
2 percent above the 1962 level, but still 27 
below 1960. Diving duck populations were 
recorded at 15 percent below last year and 37 
percent below 1960, while for the dabbling 
species an 8 percent increase over 1962, 
but a 24 percent decrease below 1960, were 
recorded, Duck densities a square mile of 
transect were 34 in 1963, 33 in 1962, 41 in 
1961, and 47 in 1960. 
Numbers of pintail, shoveler and scaup 
remained relatively unchanged from last 
year, with recorded changes ranging from 
4 percent to 6 percent from 1962. For the 
mallard and baldpate, moderate decreases of 
10-15 percent were recorded. The mallard 
breeding duck index is 11 percent below 1962 
and 31 percent below 1960. Gadwall, canvas- 
back, and redhead showed reductions of some 
20 to 30 percent below 1962. The blue- 
winged teal and ruddy ducks both increased 
greatly, with respective indexes of 51 percent 
and 75 percent above 1962, 
MINNESOTA 
Data supplied by Harry Pinkham, 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, 
and Minnesota Department of Conservation. 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Favorable water and restrictive hunting 
seasons during the past few years have ben- 
efitted ducks in Minnesota at a time when 
drought over the expansive prairie areas of 
the Dakotas and Canada prevented birds from 
breeding in these areas, 
Good water levels in wetlands this spring 
have remained relatively high during the 
summer, 
Breeding Population Indexes 
The duck outlook in Minnesota is good. 
Breeding birds were reported in good num- 
bers throughout most of the State. Numbers of 
mallards and large divers, canvasback and 
redhead, improved in northwestern Minne- 
sota. Blue-winged teal populations inwestern 
and northwestern Minnesota remained about 
the same, but showing some increases south of 
the Minnesota River. Wood ducks were 
more abundant and widespread thanthey have 
been for many years (tables E-34, 35, and 
36, pp. 129 and 130). 
45 
