nest checks; it was suspected that the disturbance associated with the nest 

 checks may have caused the desertion. Nests believed to be late or renesting 

 efforts were not surveyed because of the change in nest-site parameters by 

 that late date. Because nest surveys were conducted primarily on warm days 

 (see discussion of egg mortality on page 38 ), weather in 1976 permitted 

 more field work to be conducted, and six areas of the river were surveyed: 

 those sections used in 1975, the Sanders-to-Forsyth section, and the reach 

 from Sunday Creek to Terry. 



Island and bank nesting areas were searched for the presence of goose 

 nests by one observer with the aid of a second observer and/or a dog. Only 

 those islands small enough to be covered on foot were searched completely. 

 Larger islands, main shorelines, and heavily-vegetated areas were searched 

 only when the presence of a single goose or pair suggested that a nest was 

 nearby. Most driftwood piles and drifted trees within the study areas were 

 also searched for nests. 



Both physical and biological factors associated with goose nests were 

 measured. Biological data collected included caliper measurements of egg 

 widths and lengths, clutch size and number of adult geese attending the 

 nest. Distance from nests to water was measured with a 100-foot graduated 

 nylon rope. Elevation of nests above water was estimated using a level and 

 stadia rod. Substrate around the nests was recorded as composed of rocks, 

 rocks and silt, silt, or soil. (Soil was distinguished from silt by the 

 presence of litter, organic material, and/or vegetation: silt was considered 

 to be bare and undeveloped.) Other physical factors noted were: 1) whether 

 the nest was constructed by a drifted log or tree; 2) whether it was on an 

 island, peninsula, or the main bank; and 3) whether it was on a cliff, by a 

 tree, or at another identifiable site. Photographs were taken of each 

 nest for a record of the vegetative growth stage during the early nesting 

 season. These photographs also served as a general record of the structure 

 of cover at each site. 



Density of vegetative cover around each goose nest was estimated utilizing 

 a cover board marked with numbers 1-6 (figure 2) similar to that devised by 

 Wight (1938). Cover density was estimated from four positions 15.2 m 

 (50 feet) from the nest, spaced at 90-degree angles around the nest. The 

 first position was chosen as the most open side of the nest. The four 

 values thus obtained were averaged, giving a mean cover rating (M.C.R.) for 

 each nest as shown in the following example: 



Numbers 

 Numbers Partially Numbers 

 Visible Visible Obscured Cover Rating 



