is so dense in many of the sloughs and 
marshes that it is impossible to make 
satisfactory brood counts and many broods 
are obviously present but cannot be seen 
or counted. 
CONCLUSIONS 
It is expected that the fall flight of ducks 
from Iowa will be considerably larger 
than that of last year. 
INDIANA 
Data supplied by Edward L. 
Richardson, Indiana 
Department of Conservation 
WEATHER AND WATER CONDITIONS 
Normal or low water’ levels prevailed 
on all stream sections except the Eel 
River. This stream, which is controlled by 
the U. S. Corps of Engineers flood-control 
structure at Cagles Mill, was carrying 
the maximum amount of runoff water when 
censused on May 26. Because of high water 
the count was considered poor. Heavy 
timber. cutting noted on transect streams 
in 1960 did not appear to have animmediate 
adverse effect on wood duck production in 
1961. 
BREEDING POPULATION INDEXES 
Three stream transects (Muscatatuck, 
Mississinewa, and Maumee) totaling 47 
stream miles were traveled by powered 
boat between April 19 and May 3, 1961. 
All three streams were censused during 
a period of flooded conditions; however, 
only the Muscatatuck was out of its banks 
at the time, making the count of adults on 
this stream section questionable. A total 
of 99 male and 51 female wood ducks were 
seen. Males sighted were 24 percent above 
the 1960 average and 50 percent above the 
1952-60 average. Females showed a slight 
decrease, with a 9-percent drop from 1960 
but a 50-percent increase over the 1952-60 
average. Adult wood duck populations, from 
preliminary stream section survey data, 
are presented in table E-31 (p. 100). 
31 
PRODUCTION INDEXES 
The nine streams (Maumee, Elkhart, 
Eel, Big Blue, Salt, West Fork of the White, 
Mississinewa, Iroquois, and Muscatatuck) 
totaling 143 stream miles have been covered 
yearly since 1950. A total of 77 wood duck 
broods per 100 miles of stream were 
observed this year (table F-32, p.121). This 
brood count is 8 percent above the count 
for 1960 and is 23 percent above the 
previous 10-year average. 
Whole counts were recorded on 96 of the 
110 broods. Brood size averaged 8.9, which 
is slightly lower than in 1960, and ranged 
in size from 4 to 15. Timing for the brood- 
count survey was considered good. 
CONCLUSIONS 
The fall flight of wood ducks from Indiana 
will be somewhat greater than that of 
last year and considerably larger than the 
average of the past 8 years. 
OHIO 
Data supplied by Division of Wildlife, 
Ohio Department of Natural 
Resources 
PRODUCTION INDEXES 
Data concerning trends in production 
were obtained by means of stream surveys, 
checks of wood duck nest boxes, and brood 
surveys on two wildlife areas. The results 
of these surveys are presented in tables 
F-33, F-34, and F-35 (p. 131, 132). 
On the basis of the data collected there 
was some increase in the number of wood 
duck broods observed per mile of stream, 
although the validity of these data as 
indicators of production trend is questioned. 
Wood duck nest-box utilization remained 
about the same: 32 percent were used in 
1960 and 28 percent in 1961. Brood counts 
on two wildlife areas were somewhat below 
the numbers counted in 1958 and 1959. 
CONCLUSIONS 
It is expected that the fall flight of ducks 
from Ohio will be about the same as last 
year. 
