proportion of these populations would prob- 
ably continue through the Flyway and beyond, 
as they did before the hurricane. 
Not so readily explained is the high coot 
count this year, which exceeded all counts 
of the past 13 years and for the first time 
topped the half-million mark. How much of 
the increase can be attributed to favorable 
habitat conditions in the Flyway and how 
much to improved population status is not 
known. It is known that coot populations 
shift around the wintering grounds with 
unpredictable irregularity. 
The goose count of more than 900,000 
birds in the Mississippi Flyway also seta 
new high, due to peak counts in at least 
the past 12 years for Canada, blue, and 
white-fronted geese. 
Important species that failed to reach 
desirable population levels were the mal- 
lard, redhead, and canvasback. All three 
27 
gained slightly over their poor status in 
1960 but are still below their long-term 
averages. Any optimism generated by the 
generally high counts obtained during this 
survey for most species must be tempered 
by the knowledge that the mallard is by far 
the most important species tothis Flyway's 
waterfowl hunters and that its present 
population level is considerably below that 
of the late fifties. Since most canvasback 
and redhead winter outside this Flyway, 
the changes recorded here are not neces- 
sarily indicative of the general population 
status of these species. 
The winter survey data are presented in 
appendix C: species composition and com- 
parison with 1960 are presented in table 
C-8, (p. 66), comparisons with previous 
years in tables C-9 and C-10 (p. 67), and in 
figures C-l, C-2,andC-5(p. 70, 71, and 74). 
BREEDING GROUND SURVEY 
NORTHERN SASKATCHEWAN, 
NORTHERN MANITOBA, 
AND WESTERN ONTARIO 
Data supplied by E. B. Chamber- 
lain and Joseph W. Perroux, MJr., 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries 
and Wildlife 
WEATHER AND WATER CONDITIONS 
Breakup was later than usual this year 
over most of the North. Although we started 
a week earlier than usual from the States, 
weather and airplane difficulties combined 
to hold us back until we finally started 
the survey on the same date as last year, 
and we saw ice in lakes that were clear on 
the same date in 1960. 
Water conditions were bad throughout the 
survey area. Lack of precipitation caused 
many of the larger lakes to drop 4 to 6 
feet below their normal levels. These con- 
ditions persisted through July. The Saskat- 
chewan River Delta, however, showed a 
considerable increase in water at the time 
of the July survey. Although the area 
generally suffered from lack of rainfall 
Some rather extensive rains eased the 
situation over a considerable portion of the 
Survey area. While coming too late to be 
of much help to ducks or agriculture these 
rains eased the fire hazard and helped to 
bring some fires under control. 
BREEDING POPULATION INDEXES 
Results of the May survey appear in 
tables E-25 and E-26 (p. 97, 98). Overall, 
the picture is somewhat on the dim side, 
with the total population index at its lowest 
since 1958. , 
PRODUCTION INDEXES 
Results of the July survey appear intables 
F-26 and F-27, (p. 118, 119). It will be 
seen that the total young index jumped 
from 213,115 in 1960 to 303,882 this year, 
an increase of 42 percent. This is the 
highest number recorded for this area since 
July surveys were initiated. This index, 
together with the lower tate-nesting index, 
indicates that early nesting attempts were 
successful. It is evident from the survey 
date that production from this area will be 
substantially above normal. 
CONCLUSIONS 
It is believed that the substantial increase 
in production will offset the smalldecrease 
