10 
addition, a series of nest sampling plots on 
another previously established area showed 
a proportional increase in nests. Of note is 
the observation that although black brant 
nest densities showed over a 200-percent 
increase, the cackling goose segment of the 
nesting population remained nearly the 
same. 
In addition to the standard coverage in 
Alaska, the survey in 1961 was extended 
into Canada covering an area within a 200- 
mile radius of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. 
Most of this area is mountainous, but a 
surprising number of ponds and lakes are 
in the river valleys and at the lower 
elevations. Breakup was reported to be late 
this year (corresponding with eastern 
Alaska) with no more than a very tenuous 
float operation possible before May 20 
although the rivers were all open and there 
was enough open water around most of the 
ponds for the ducks to be well dispersed. 
Twenty-eight 16-mile transects were flown 
in this area for a mean density of 15.0 
ducks per square mile. The total amount of 
habitat has not been measured pending 
receipt of adequate maps. Thus, a popula- 
tion index has not yet been derived. The 
species composition ran high to scaup (50.0 
percent) and low to pintail (4.1 percent); 
mallard (6.6 percent), bufflehead (8.8 per- 
cent), scoter (20.0 percent), and goldeneye 
(2.5 percent), comprised the remainder. 
Breeding population data are presented 
in tables E-1, E-2, and E-3 (p. 83, 84). 
PRODUCTION INDEXES 
Production studies were conducted during 
July on four sample areas located at Tetlin, 
Fort Yukon, Minto Lakes, and Kashunuk 
River. The data collected at these study 
areas are presented in tables F-1 through 
F-3, (p. 105, 106). 
The total broods listed for each year on 
the Tetlin and Fort Yukon study areas are 
not directly comparable. In 1960, the count 
is the total for the summer whereas in 
1961 the count does not include many of the 
Scaup and other late nesters. The total 
number of broods in 1961 will be, much 
higher than in 1960 but may not be as high 
as the exceptional production of 1959. The 
- 
lateness of the season is illustrated by the 
following comparative brood counts. On 
July 19, 1960, in the Tetlin area 57 broods 
were counted on one lake. Forty-two percent 
were class I, 44 percent were class II and 
14 percent class III, On July 21, 1961 on 
the same lake 42 broods were counted as 
follows: 62 percent, class I; 36 percent, 
class II; and 2 percent, class III. 
Comparative brood counts have been 
made on certain key lakes for the past 
several years. However, the high water 
levels coinciding with the peak of the dab- 
bling duck hatch resulted in a marked 
redistribution of the population. There is 
uniform agreement among the biologists 
working independently that the total number 
of broods is well above last year's level, 
but it is impossible to give a quantitative 
estimate of how much. 
A compilation of black brant nest and 
brood data for 1951, 1954, and 1961 from 
the Kashunuk River appears in table F-4. 
The 1951 broods were slightly the largest 
at hatching and continued to remain pro- 
portionately the largest. However, it willbe 
noted that this statistic was based on 288 
broods, whereas 454 broods were counted 
in 1961. Again, in 1954 the brood size is 
smaller than in either of the other 2 years; 
furthermore, the total number of broods 
counted was only 159. Because these brood 
counts and nesting statistics were gathered 
from the same area with essentially the 
same methods used, they seem fairly com- 
parable. 
CONCLUSIONS 
In view of the small increase in the 
breeding population and the estimate that 
the number of broods will be larger than 
last year, it is concluded that there will be 
an increase in the fall flight of ducks from 
Alaska as compared with 1960. Increases in 
both breeding population and production of 
black brant were recorded and a moderate 
improvement in the fall flight of this species 
is expected also. 
3For an explanation of age classification of ducklings see 
Gollop and Marshall (1954). 
