nesting potential of the late nesting index 
is overrated this year. 
Appendix table F-29 shows the brood 
index for ducks and coots and the late- 
nesting index for ducks for the 8-year 
period, 1954-61. 
Duck broods recorded in stratum A were 
the second lowest on record for the period, 
while the index for stratum B was at its 
highest point. The overall late-nesting 
index, on the other hand, was at an all- 
time low. Only in stratum B had it once 
been lower. 
Coot broods were greatly reducedfrom 
1960 and were considerably below 
average. 
Table F-30 shows the percentage of duck 
broods in classes I, II, and III. While the 
30.9 percent of class I broods recorded 
this year is not the lowest on record, it is 
well below average. Very few newly hatched 
class-I broods were seen during the 
survey--further evidence of the improbabil- 
ity of the hatch continuing. 
CONCLUSIONS 
The fall flight from southern Manitoba 
is expected to be the lowest of the past 
8-year period. Despite the fact that a fair 
number of broods were seen, the forecast 
index is reduced by the low late-nesting 
and“ water indexes and by the small per- 
centage of broods in class I, all indicating 
that there would not be a strong later 
hatch. A very poor duck crop can be 
expected in southern Manitoba in 1961. 
MINNESOTA 
Data supplied by Forest Lee and 
Robert Benson, 
Minnesota Department of 
Conservation 
WEATHER AND HABITAT CONDITIONS 
Based on 558 miles of auto transect in 
both the wooded and prairie parts of the 
State there were 6.0 water areas per square 
mile recorded in May this year as com- 
pared with 5.6 per square mile last year. 
This increase is misleading, however, since 
many of the areas were shallow and by 
July were dry. 
29 
BREEDING POPULATION INDEXES 
Breeding pairs of ducks recorded during 
May surveys averaged 4.56 per square 
mile as compared with 4.44 in 1960. Among 
the species, blue-winged teal and ring- 
necked duck remained about the sarne but 
a decrease was recorded for mallards. 
PRODUCTION INDEXES 
In the western part of the State, drought 
reduced the number of broods. Also, a 
considerable number of adult birds in groups 
of mixed sexes was observed early in July, 
which is indicative of lack of nesting 
success, 
In the eastern part of the State, there was 
some evidence of a larger number of 
broods than last year. However, drought 
caused many of the water areas to dry 
up, and the favorable brood picture for 
the more-permanent census areas may 
be biased by movement of broods to these 
areas from the dried-up potholes. 
CONCLUSIONS 
It is concluded that the fall flight of ducks 
will decrease from the western prairie 
section of the State as compared with 
1960, but the number of birds coming from 
the eastern wooded part will be about the 
same as last year. 
MICHIGAN 
Data supplied by Merrill L, Petoskey, 
Michigan Department of 
Conservation 
WEATHER AND WATER CONDITIONS 
The winter was relatively mild by most 
standards, with less thanthe normal amount 
of snow and temperatures ranging above 
normal. 
Temperatures during the spring migra- 
tion were also above normal. Precipitation 
was generally deficient throughout most of 
the State during most of the first 6 months 
of the year. In the latter part of June, 
however, severe thunderstorm activity in 
the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula 
