In 1955 over 1,600 nidurning dove nests were under 

 observation b\' project personnel. In 1956 a total of 

 1,030 mourning dove nests was under observation as 

 the biennium closed. 



Dove wing examinations during 1954 and 1955 hunt- 

 ing seasons showed that, on a state- wide basis, 64 per- 

 cent of the 3,506 wings checked in 1954 were from 

 young birds of the year and 62 percent of the 3,858 

 wings checked in 1955 were from young birds of the 

 year. 



This indicated the State's dove population to be in a 

 verv healthy condition. 



PIGEONS 



The pigeon take was below normal in 1954 and 1955. 

 This was due to the distribution of the birds during the 

 hunting season, rather than any decrease in the pigeon 

 populations. In 1955 many birds from northern sec- 

 tions of the flyway did not move into the State until 

 after the hunting seasons were over. 



Information obtained bv trapping indicated that 

 there was better than normal reproduction in 1955. 

 Large populations of pigeons were present in agricul- 

 tural areas from Januar\' through March of 1956, and 

 pigeon depredation complaints increased during this 

 period. 



A band-tailed pigeon investigation was completed 

 in 1955. It was undertaken to determine the status of 

 this game species by obtaining data on reproduction, 

 range, migration, and hunters' bag, upon which the 

 recommendations for management could be based. 



A total of 26 nests was under observation. It was 

 found that the nesting season extended from early 

 February to the middle of October. It was also deter- 

 mined that in at least one case three nestings in the 

 same nest, by color-marked adults, were successful 

 out of four attempts in one year. 



Over 2,000 band-tailed pigeons were banded by 

 project personnel in order to determine the extent and 

 routes of migration. Pigeons banded in California were 

 taken from British Columbia to the Mexican border. 



Of the 4,660 pigeons banded in the west within the 

 last 20 years, 313 bands have been returned, 139 of 

 w hich were from birds banded in California. The find- 

 ings of the stud>- have been published in part. 



FUR RESOURCES 



During the biennium 1,316 licensed trappers took 

 199,990 pelts with an estimated value of |244,768 at 

 the raw fur price. 



The 1955-56 trapping season showed a decrease of 

 28 percent in reported catch. This decrease was at- 

 tributable to the heaviest rainfall in the history of the 

 State occurring during the height of the muskrat trap- 

 ping in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. The 

 buyer demand has remained for the short-haired 

 species, muskrat, mink, otter and beaver. 



Oscar Brunef/J, Gome Management Lab Chief, conducts an investigation, 



(Fish and Game Photo) 



PREDATOR CONTROL 



During the biennium, 3,171 coyotes, 1,592 bobcats 

 and 7,849 lesser predators (skunks, coons, possums, 

 etc.) for a total of 12,612 were taken by department 

 predator control men. 



The department's policy is to trap predators, when- 

 ever such trapping will benefit management of game. 

 As a consequence particular effort is exerted on preda- 

 tor control on deer faw ning areas, antelope kidding 

 grounds, waterfowl and upland game nesting areas 

 and areas where public access to hunting is allowed. 



Although there is no direct evidence to support the 

 contention, the excellent hatch in upland game in the 

 Marvsville area this year can be attributed in some 

 measure to the late 1955 floods which wiped out 

 countless thousands of small predators which might 

 have pre\ed on eggs or chicks. 



MOUNTAIN LION CONTROL 



During the biennium 344 mountain lions were 

 bountied, 75 by state lion hunters, 268 by private indi- 

 viduals. Of this total 183 were taken in 1954 and 160 

 in 1955. The bounty is |50 per male lion and $60 per 

 female. There were three department lion hunters 

 during the biennium. 



FISH AND GAME LABORATORY 



During the biennium, investigations continued on 

 wildlife diseases, wildlife food habits and nutritional 

 requirements so that epidemics might be anticipated 

 and effective control measures applied, and knowledge 

 of food habits and nutrition might be effectively used 

 as management tools. 



Botulism 



There were on!>' a few scattered and minor out- 

 breaks of botulism during the biennium, with losses 

 of insignificant proportions. 



