Production Indexes 
Stable water combined with generally dry 
weather during the hatching period has favored 
a good hatch and survival of ducklings, (table 
F-37, p. 155). 
Conclusions 
Duck production in Minnesota is the best 
observed for some time, 
SPECIAL STUDY © 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
The annual Chippewa National Forest 
waterfowl census was conducted for the 
twenty-second time since 1937, The method, 
time, and technique were identical with the 
previous year. 
The water level reading at the Winnie- 
bigoshish Dam at the time of the census 
was 9.9 feet, which is .5 feet below normal 
for this period, and was 1.7 feet below the 
reading at the dam site during the 1962 
census, 
Aquatic vegetation, both emergent and 
submergent, was more abundant inthe census 
area than during the 1962 census, The wild 
rice stands improved over the past year 
and other aquatic vegetation was about normal 
for the area, 
Breeding Population Indexes 
Results of the 1963 waterfowl census as 
compared with previous years are shown in 
tables E-37 and E-38, pp. 131. 
Production Indexes 
Production information obtained from the 
survey 1s shown in tables F-38 and F-39, 
pp. 156, 
Conclusions 
This year’s waterfowl survey indicated a 
35 percent decrease as compared with 1939- 
40 and a 108 percent increase from 1962. 
The population increase over 1962 may have 
3'Data supplied by Harry Pinkham 
resulted from the lower water levels in the 
area which caused a greater concentration of 
birds on the lakes and a general increase in 
population. 
The marked increase in the number of 
broods counted in 1963 as compared with 1962 
is contributed to more favorable weather 
conditions which resulted in better nesting 
habitat. 
MICHIGAN 
Data supplied by Merril L, Petoskey 
Michigan Department of Conservation 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
The winter was severe with the heaviest 
snowfall along the west side of the Lower 
Peninsula, Temperatures averaged below 
normal through much of January, February, 
and March. Several new record lows were 
set in southern Michigan during February. 
Near normal temperatures began to occur 
during the last week in March. We feel that 
the earlier subnormal temperatures delayed 
migration by as much as 2 weeks. 
Precipitation was below normal in the 
northern part of the State and above normal 
in the southern part during the late winter 
and early spring. April, May, and June 
weather was reasonably good for nesting but 
high winds and hail may have resulted in 
some nest destruction and loss of ducklings, 
Offshore winds caused high water in the 
Saginaw Bay marshes which resulted in the 
destruction of many blue-winged teal nests, 
Several record lows were set during the last 
week of May with temperatures averaging 5 
to 12 degrees below normal, Precipitation 
during June was far above normal for the 
entire State. The Lansing area received 
4,35 inches of rainfall on the 7th of June, 
establishing a new record for a 24-hour 
period, 
Breeding Population Indexes 
Counts of potential breeding wood ducks 
were made during regular census trips. 
No special observations are made on the 
wood duck. All observations are made in 
conjunction with those on other species. 
Most of the areas censused do not contain 
46 
