The species composition of the kill in the 
Atlantic Flyway was similar to that obtained 
in 1961 with a few minor exceptions (table 
B-5, p. 78). The proportion of the Flyway 
kill made up of black ducks increased from 
27.1 in 1961 to 28.9 percent of the total in 
1962; wood ducks decreased from 17.1 to 
15.8 percent of the total; and greater scaup 
increased from 2.1 to 4.2 percent of the total 
kill, 
WINTER SURVEY 
Data supplied by C, E, Addy, Atlantic 
Flyway Representative, Bureau of Sport 
Fisheries and Wildlife 
Coverage this year was essentially com- 
parable to that of last year. The bulk of the 
survey was conducted during the period Jan- 
uary 7-15. Only in the St, Lawrence River 
area of northern New York was coverage 
delayed until late in January. 
The usual surveys in eastern Canada and 
the United States were carried out, In 
addition, surveys were made in Puerto Rico 
and the Virgin Islands, But in these island 
areas only 865 ducks were recorded. 
Visibility and flying conditions varied and 
local weather conditions momentarily inter- 
rupted coverage during the survey period in 
various parts of the flyway. The northern 
half of the Flyway experienced severe cold 
with open water found only in outer tidalareas 
and larger inland freshwater habitats, Even 
the southern portion of the Flyway ex- 
perienced below normal temperatures and 
drought was prevalent, particularly in South 
Carolina. It is believed that the early and 
continued severe cold in northern areas 
forced more birds farther south this year, 
Also, dry conditions inthe south, particularly 
South Carolina, tended to concentrate birds 
in open waters where they were more readily 
observed by survey crews. Theseconditions 
could have a major effect, not only on the 
actual distribution of birds between years but 
on the proportion of birds present which are 
seen by the observers, 
BREEDING GROUND SURVEY 
EASTERN ONTARIO, QUEBEC, 
AND LABRADOR 
Data supplied by E, B. Chamberlainand C, F, 
Kaczynski 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
In the southern and western portions of 
Ontario breakup and weather conditions were 
nearly normal, although temperatures gen- 
erally were below normal for the entire 
area, There was a heavy snowstorm in 
Ottawa, extending through Montreal and 
southeast into New England, on May 10-11, 
Water conditions in this portion ofthe survey 
area appeared to be good. Elsewhere the 
situation was different. 
In the northern and eastern portions of the 
survey area temperatures were generally 
below normal, Breakup was retarded two to 
four weeks over much of the area. {As late 
as June 19 Squaw Lake at Schefferville had 
50 
not opened up sufficiently for float-plane 
operations, although it had started to open 
around the edges on June 12.) 
Most of the water areas were considerably 
lower than normal and in some localities 
draw-down for hydro-electric and logging 
operations, even further lowered the levels, 
Low water levels were also observed in 
1962, Furthermore, a similar condition was 
noted by E, B, Chamberlain in the Northwest 
Territories west of Hudson Bay, in 1961. The 
occurrence of this condition over so vast 
an area suggests that even the remote Artic 
is not immune to the effect of periodic 
droughts such as have occurred in more 
temperate climates during the past few years. 
In the southern and western portions ofthe 
area during the time of the survey, weather 
was dry, forest fires were numerous, a few 
extremely large, and water levels continued 
below normal, These conditions covered 
roughly one-third of the survey area, Over 
the remainder, while water levels were 
generally below normal, periods of three to 
