Gosling production for known-fate nests (101) was 608 young, 

 for an average production of 6,0 per successful nest. For the 

 34 nests of unknown fate, production was estimated by using 85.6 

 percent nest success, 94 percent egg success and average clutch 

 size of 5.9 eggs. This results in an estimate of 161 goslings, 

 for a total production of 769 young in 1979. Production was 

 estimated to be 199, 524, and 555 in 1976, 1977 and 1978, re- 

 spectively. Table 33 presents brood observations by river section 

 for 1979. 



Table 33. Canada goose brood survey - 1979 - Missouri River, 



Section 



Adult 



Young 



48 

 52 

 67 

 50 



Not 

 Classified 



Total 



50 



66 



76 



143 



72 



Total 



90 



217 



50 



357 



Tables 34, 35, 36 and 37 present data on 1979 nest sites. 

 Litter was the predominant nest material, accounting for 88.8 per- 

 cent of the nests. This is similar to 1977 (72 percent) and 

 1978 (86 percent) . 



Willow was the preferred nest site vegetation, with 61.2 per- 

 cent of the nests being found in this type followed by Equisetum 

 and Rosa spp. 



This high use of willow has been consistent over the last 4 

 years. Seventy-one and five-tenths percent of the nests were lo- 

 cated in vegetation 4 feet or less in height compared to 84 per- 

 cent in 1978. Fifty-eight and three-tenths percent of the nests 

 were 6 feet or less above the river level at the time of the initial 

 spring surveys, and 60.3 percent were within 20 feet of open water, 

 with 18.5 percent more than 50 feet from the water. 



76 



