12 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



left many patches of round-stemmed tule that ordinarily would have 

 been burned. Thus, a greater amount of this cover tj'pe was available. 



TABLE I 



Cover Types Utilized by Canada Geese in 1939 and 1940 and Percentage 



Distribution of Nests 



19S9 1940 



Cover Type (169 nests) (249 nests) 



A. Tule 25.4 — 39.8 



B. Marsh 30.8 6.8 



C. Island 12.4 20.0 



D. Haystack 2.4 5.6 



E. Irrigated Meadow 10.1 8.4 



F. Muskrat House 7.7 0.4 



G. Canal Bank 11.2 16.1 



H. Willow 0.0 2.0 



B. Marsh : The areas designated as marsh were those areas that 

 w r ere flooded during the spring season, or, if water were available, 

 remained flooded the year around. They were distinguished from Type 

 E (Irrigated Meadow) by ranker plant growth and The fact that they 

 were never mowed, but instead grazed by live stock during the dry 

 season. [Types A (Tule) and F (Muskrat Houses) were located within 

 this type and could be considered as subtypes of Type B.] 



In 1939, 52 nests or 30.8 per cent were found in this nesting type. 

 In 1940, only 17 nests or 6.8 per cent were found here. This marked 

 decrease was due to the unusual high water levels that prevailed during 

 the 1940 nesting season, forcing the nesting geese to higher and drier 

 elevations. 



C. Island: Only 30 acres of islands were included in the entire 

 study area, a fraction of 1 per cent of the total acreage. The fact that 

 21 nests or 12.4 per cent were found in Type C in 1939, and 52 nests 

 or 20.9 per cent in 1940, indicates that islands are preferred nesting 

 sites. 



The increase in the use of this type in 1940 was probably due to 

 the prevalence of high water in other nesting areas. Also, the higher 

 water level resulted in there being more islands. 



D. Haystacks : Haystacks were used as nesting sites by four pairs 

 of geese or 2.4 per cent in 1939, and by 14 pairs or 5.6 per cent in 1940. 



The use of haystacks as nesting sites is directly correlated with 

 the amount of hay used for winter feeding of live stock. Most of the 

 stacks that were still present during the nesting seasons of 1939 and 

 1940 were used by nesting geese. 



E. Flooded Meadows: This type is similar to Type B (Marsh) 

 in that it is ordinarily flooded during the nesting season. 



On the flooded meadows, however, water is under control. They 

 are drained during June and July so that grasses and sedges can be 

 harvested. In this type there are levees, dams, and occasional plots 

 of high ground which afford nesting sites for geese. 



Seventeen or 10.1 per cent of the nests were found in meadows in 

 1939 and 21 or 8.4 per cent in 1940. 



F. Muskrat Houses : Thirteen nests or 7.7 per cent were found 

 on muskrat houses in 1939 and only 1 or 0.4 per cent in 1940. 



