Flyway has been declining irregularly since 
the peak population of 60,000 recorded in 
1953, and there is reason for concern. 
The coot population increased con- 
siderably over its 1960 numbers (+47 per- 
cent) and reached a level approximately 
equal to the average of the past 13 years. 
19 
The winter survey data for 1961 are 
presented in Appendix C: species com- 
position and comparisons with 1960 in 
table C-5 (p. 64), and comparisons with 
previous years in tables C-6 and C-7 (p.65), 
and in figures C-1l, C-2, and C-5 (p. 70, 71, 
and 74), 
BREEDING GROUND SURVEY 
SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN 
Data supplied by Rossalius C. 
Hanson and Herbert O,. Duncan, 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries 
and Wildlife 
WEATHER AND WATER CONDITIONS 
Water in the potholes, ponds, and marshes 
was the lowest ever recorded in the aerial 
surveys. Drought conditions may be nearly 
as bad as in the thirties, and any improve- 
ments noted in May 1960 have been elimi- 
nated. The survey indicated water losses 
in all strata. A loss of 72 percent is noted, 
when the water areas recorded this year 
are compared with those reported in 1960. 
The number of ponds recorded this year 
was 25 percent below that in 1959, which 
Wasa very poor water year. 
This loss climaxed a dry surnmer and 
fall in 1960 with an open winter, and very 
unfavorable runoff conditions in the spring 
of 1961, What moisture did fall during the 
winter was absorbed by the soil. 
A report from the Searle Grain Co., 
Ltd., based on moisture conditions as of 
May 1, 1961, states-- 
Outside the year 1958, when the index was approximately 
the same, there has been only 3 years during the past 25 
years when fall precipitation over western Canada, as a 
whole, was lower than that reported for 1960, These were 
1936, 1948, and 1955, Snowfall during the winter of 1960-1961 
was relatively light, especially in southern areas where it 
disappeared early and was not a factor, There was, however, 
- much less runoff this spring, 
In late April, temperatures dropped to 
10° F., and during early May freezing 
night temperatures were the rule. Ice was 
still holding just north of Prince Albert the 
last week in May. About May 20 the weather 
started to warm and the temperature rose 
above 80°, Apparently, nesting was con- 
siderably delayed by the long cold spring, 
and it appeared to be at least 10 days later 
than normal. 
Nesting habitat, as in 1959, was definitely 
lacking, with wide mudflats surrounding 
potholes, little or no over-water cover, and 
mowed or burned edges. Early burning was 
noticeably absent this year until about 
May 20, after which numerous fires were 
seen daily. 
Water and habitat conditions showed no 
improvement between May and July. Water 
levels continued to decline and the drought 
increased in intensity. Crops deteriorated 
with the drying up of ponds. The July 1961 
pond index was 89 percent below the 8-year 
average; it was 79 percent below the 1960 
index and 55 percent below that of 1959. 
Water data are presented in tables D-2 and 
D-3 (p. 77). 
BREEDING POPULATION INDEXES 
The numbers of ducks inthe Saskatchewan 
prairies were down drastically in May 1961. 
The total duck index was 2,038,000: a decline 
of 37 percent from the 1960 index, 36 per- 
cent from that of 1959, and 51 percent 
below the ll-year average. Compared with 
1960, dabbling ducks were down 40 percent 
and divers 10 percent. Of the important. 
species, only canvasbacks and scaup gained, 
and the gains were small; probably their 
status should be called unchanged. In prac- . 
tically all other species the decline was 
30 percent or more. These comments are 
also true when comparing the 1961 records - 
with those of 1959, one of the worst pro- 
duction years on record. A look at the 
long-term, 11-year average shows adecline 
in every major species, and here again the 
decline is 35 percent or more. The coot 
index is down 53 percent from the 1960 
index--probably a fairly reliable index of 
coot usage of the Saskatchewan area. 
