experienced last year, A small increase in 
fall flight from Alaska is expected, In the 
Northwest Territories along the MacKenzie 
River drainage, breeding population remained 
about the same (-8 percent), Production 
prospects are poor due primarily to cold 
weather late in May. They were poor also 
in 1962, which means that a change from the 
below average fall flight of last year is not 
expected, In northern Alberta, an increase 
of 25 percent in breeding population was 
recorded this year as compared to 1962, 
Habitat conditions improved and it is ex- 
pected that the fall flight from this section 
will increase considerably. In northernSas- 
katchewan, the breeding population increased 
slightly (+13 percent), and in northern Mani- 
toba it remained about the same (-5 per- 
cent). Habitat conditions in these two areas 
were favorable so that increases in both 
production and fall flight are expected. 
In Ontario, a decrease of 49 percent was 
recorded in the breeding population and, al- 
though production appears to be good, it will 
not offset the large decrease in breeding 
population and a decrease in fall flight is 
expected. In southern Alberta, the breeding 
population increased 13 percent as compared 
to 1962. Production is judged to be much 
improved and the fall flight is expected to 
increase considerably. In southern Saskatch- 
ewan, the breeding population increased 10 
percent, Habitat conditions did not improve 
as much as they did in southern Alberta and, 
although production is expected to increase, 
the amount of increase in fall flight will be 
less, proportionately, than in southern Al- 
berta. In southern Manitoba, a 34 percent 
increase in breeding population was recorded 
during May. An increase in production is 
expected but nesting effort was disrupted by 
adverse weather during late May and only 
a moderate increase in fall flight is expected. 
Stateside, and beginning in the West, there 
were increases in some portions of Washing- 
ton State and decreases in others, It is ex- 
pected that the fall flight from that State will 
be about the same as last year. In Oregon, 
the drought of the past few years seems to 
have broken and increases were recorded 
both in breeding population and in production, 
Essentially the same situation holds true for 
California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, 
In Montana, habitat conditions improved inthe 
eastern portions of the State and deteriorated 
in the western part. Surveys in May revealed 
the highest breeding population index in Mon- 
tana since the surveys were initiated. Pro- 
duction is expected to be good and an increased 
fall flight is expected. In the Dakotas and 
western Minnesota a 32 percent increase in 
breeding population was recorded during May, 
Data on production collected during July 
revealed that production will increase above 
last year and an increase in fall flight is 
forecast, In Nebraska, a major increase in 
breeding population was recorded during May 
and surveys during July revealed a similar 
increase in production. A major increase in 
fall flight is expected from this State. In 
Colorado, the breeding population remained 
unchanged as compared to 1962 (+7 percent), 
Since water conditions were poorer than last 
year, it is anticipated that the fall flight from 
Colorado will remain essentially unchanged 
as compared to a year ago, Surveys in 
Michigan reveal increases both in breeding 
population and production, and an increased 
flight is forecast. 
The only area reporting in the Northeast 
was Maine, where surveys revealed a de- 
crease both in breeding populations and 
production, 
Status of Canvasback and Redhead Ducks 
The seasons on canvasback and redhead 
have been closed during the past 3 years. 
As a result of this protection, there is evi- 
dence that the population of these two species 
has improved. Specifically, redhead in- 
creased 13 percent as compared to 1962, 
while canvasback increased 83 percent, Red- 
head population now stands 14 percent below 
the average for the past 10 years, and can- 
vasback are 11 percent below, These in- 
creases are encouraging. However, much of 
the canvasback breeding population increase 
this year occurred in northern Alberta and 
particularly in the Northwest Territories 
where successful nesting was problematical, 
Regardless, over-water nesting habitat was 
much improved in the southern parts of the 
Prairie Provinces and in the Dakotas. In- 
creased production is expected this year. 
PACIFIC FLYWAY 
Ducks 
When considering only the breeding areas 
which supply birds to the Pacific Flyway, a 
moderate increase is expected in the fall 
56 
