iT 
20 
As in 1959, sizeable numbers of paired 
ducks were seen in flocks on small water 
areas. In 1959 these displaced pairs ap- 
parently made little effort to nest. It 
appears that somewhat the same situation 
will occur here this year unless the birds 
move into better water areas. We have no 
accurate way of judging the numbers in- 
volved in this category but they appear 
smaller than in 1959, which may be at 
least one favorable factor. Indexes of 
grouped ducks compare as follows: 1961, 
136,300; 1960, 74,200; 1959, 193,300. De- 
tailed population data are presented in 
tables E-14 and E-15 (p. 91, 92). 
PRODUCTION INDEXES 
As is to be expected, the production of 
broods was down from previous years. At 
first, in July, it appeared production would 
be a failure; however, a few broods were 
produced in even the driest sections, and 
where a bit of water remained, a much 
reduced brood crop was found. The brood 
index in 1961 was 44 percent below that of 
1960, 35 percent below the 1959 index, and 
76 percent below the 8-year average. One 
or two areas held to the 1959 level. The 
index in stratum A-West was above the 
1959 level, but it was still below that of 
1960 and the long-term average. The east- 
ern parts of the Province had greater pro- 
duction losses than could be made up by 
any slight gains in the west or northwest 
prairie areas of the Province. Visibility 
factors due to open mudflats tended to 
make broods more readily seen and had 
some influence on total numbers of broods 
observed. Therefore, it would be expected 
that in years of more cover, such as 1960, 
broods probably were missed in the count 
to a greater extent. This would tend to 
put an even more pessimistic outlook on 
broods seen this year than the figures 
indicate, 
Ducklings in class II and III broods 
averaged 4.6 to the brood, compared with 
4.7 in 1960, 4.1 in 1959, and 5.9 for the 
8-year average. An analysis of the broods 
seen indicated 24 percent in class I, 34 
percent in class II, and 42 percent in class 
III. Thus, a less-than-normal brood size 
with a majority of the broods in the older 
age brackets is indicated. 
The few coot broods seen were in the 
more northern transects of the prairies, 
where better water conditions were found. 
The coot brood index for 1961 is downfrom 
1960 but a little above 1959. So few broods 
were seen that any real evaluation of the 
trend is questionable. 
The late-nesting index was for all prac- 
ticable purposes nonexistent this year. 
It was 77 percent below that of 1960, 60 
percent below that of 1959, and 73 percent 
below the long-term average. The few birds 
making a late-nesting effort will be hard 
pressed to bring any broods to maturity 
because of the dwindling water supply. 
When the production survey data are 
viewed collectively the outlook for 1961 is 
the worst on aerial survey records and 
is well below the drought year of 1959. 
Production data details are presented in 
tables F-17 and F-18 (p. 114, 115). 
CONCLUSIONS 
The drought intensified in the prairie 
areas of southern Saskatchewan during the 
spring and summer of 1961. Water and 
habitat conditions were the poorest in the 
records of aerial surveys. Brood produc- 
tion was down 44 percent and the July pond 
index was down 79 percent from 1960. For 
all practical purposes the late-nesting index 
was nonexistent. 
The 1961 forecast index is the lowest on 
record, indicating an unsatisfactory outlook 
as far as duck production from this area is 
concerned, The outlook for the fall flight 
from southern Saskatchewan is the poorest 
on record, 
MONTANA 
Data supplied by Dale Witt, 
Montana State Fish and 
Game Commission 
WEATHER AND WATER CONDITIONS 
Water conditions during the May survey 
in the glaciated subdivisions have deterio- 
‘rated since the previous year. This was 
mainly due to a dry hot summer and an 
extreme warm and dry winter. The major 
decrease in water areas was inthe pothole- 
type habitat. (See table D-4, p. 78.) Water 
conditions in the Flathead Valley were 
affected by drought conditions last summer 
