Summary

Description

This report summarizes the results of a breeding ground survey in Alaska during the 1965 breeding season. This year 206 of the 214, 16 mile transects laid out for breeding pair survey were completed in 101 flying hours by 180 Cessna. The survey showed a 27 decrease in breeding duck pairs from 1964 and a 28 decrease from the 10 year average. Duck production was very poor in 1964 due to the latest spring breakup on record followed by extensive flooding of nesting habitat so the reduced breeding population of 1965 comes as no surprise. The habitat this year appears to be in good shape and nesting began on schedule. What little data we have thus far, mostly for geese and swan, indicates high nest densities and large clutches so we may have a good chance of recovering the 1964 losses or at least producing a fall flight comparable to 1964.