W4rns<:f.u 



Canada geese are banded by the waferfowi study team at Honey Lake, Lassen County. This is one of the State's major breeding grounds for the big 



''honkers/' 



Others are in development, land acquisition, mainte- 

 nance and coordination. Following is a summary of the 

 sur\-ey and investigation projects and their aims. De- 

 velopment projects are summarized under their various 

 management functions. 



Food Habits Investigations, Project W25-R: Food 

 habits information gained mainl\- through stomach 

 analyses is an integral part of ^\■ildlife management 

 studies now being conducted by the department. In- 

 formation gained on nutritional value of native deer 

 browses and other deer food habits has been valuable 

 in helping formulate deer management plans for herds 

 throughout the State, and in determining possible 

 range improvements. 



Other species in which investigations have been 

 made included coyotes, bobcats, pigeons, chukars, 

 quail and waterfowl. Knowledge gained in these 

 studies enables the department to recommend intel- 

 ligent control measures against predators, and in the 

 case of game birds is used in de\eloping new food 

 plants, in planning waterfowl management areas, and 

 in determining possible new locations for introductions 

 or planting of various species. 



In addition, the food habits laboratory, as time 

 allows, has done work for si.\ other western states. 

 The department is reimbursed for this work on a labor 

 cost basis. 



Study of Production, Migration and Wintering 

 Areas of Waterfowl in California, Project W3 0-R: 

 \'alue of information gained through investigations 

 and sur\-eys of watcrfow I numbers, scope and condi- 

 tion of breeding grounds, resting areas, and degree of 

 kill is tremendous in setting of seasons and bag limits. 



This material, gathered painstakingly by department 

 field men, and correlated by the staff, is weighed each 

 year by the California Fish and Game Commission, the 

 Pacific Waterfowl Flyway Council, other states on the 

 flyway, and federal agencies in the formulation of 

 policies and regulations. 



As California is the main wintering ground of the 

 entire Pacific Flyway, data gathered here is of vital 

 importance to all western states. Main phases of the 

 project are: 



1. Winter Inventory of Waterfowl. An annual 

 winter inventory is conducted in order to determine 

 any rise or fall in over-all waterfowl populations. 

 Armed with this information, recommendations may 

 be made for changes in seasons or bag limits. This has 

 been a joint program of the department and the Fish 

 and Wildlife Service. 



2. Breeding Grounds Survey. The major breeding 

 grounds within the State are surveyed in the spring 

 in order to determine the local production of ducks 

 and geese. An aerial census of paired waterfowl and 

 actual nesting studies are phases of the project. 



3. Banding Operations. An extensive waterfowl 

 banding program has been in progress. This study 

 yields data on migration patterns and mortality of 

 various species as affected by hunting pressure. Dur- 

 ing the two-vear period, 68,732 birds, including ducks, 

 geese and coots, were banded. The rate of return 

 averaged 15 percent. 



4. Bag checks to determine the degree various spe- 

 cies of waterfowl enter into the over-all kill. 



5. Duck Club Surve\'. Annual records are kept on 

 hunting success on the various duck clubs in the State. 



