Between the Lerma and Zamorano Rivers, a short distance east of the 
town of La Barca, there is a reservoir about a mile in length. It has 
long been a favorite wintering place for ducks and geese. Upon visiting 
it this season, Mr. Goldman found that a deep trench had been excavated by 
which the water had been drained into a canal, The lake was nearly empty 
but a few ducks and about 25 lesser snow geese were still frequenting the 
diminishing waters. 
The Presa San Antonio de Huarache, situated in the lower Lerma River 
Valley and near the east end of Lake Chapala is celebrated as a resting 
place for large numbers of geese where ordinarily, they may be regularly 
observed in their daily flight to feeding grounds to the southward. On the 
occasion of the present examination the waterfowl population was limited 
to 25 white-fronted geese and a few ducks. 
The Laguna de Santiagiullo, in a valley of the Sierra Madre mountains 
north of the city of Durango, is another large lake, being more than 30 
miles in length. The stability of this lake has been improved and its 
water supply assured by the construction of a strong retaining dam across 
the outlet. Waterfowl winter here in large numbers and in addition to 
the wide acreage of flat grassy valley lands, excellent for geese and 
cranes, there is a considerable area under cultivation where grain is 
grown by the members of an industrious colony of Mennonites, originally 
from the United States and Canada. 
In si mming up his work, Mr. Goldman reported that the waterfowl popu- 
lation of the Mexican tableland as a whole, showed a marked decrease, In 
certain sections, notably in western Chihuahua and central Durango, there 
were exceptions to this general situation, but in no section was a large 
number of ducks or geese reported. A probable explanation for at least a 
part of this shortage in Mexico is found in the increased number known to 
have wintered in California. 
On the east coast, Dr. G. B. Saunders, biologist of the Central 
Flyway, operating from his temporary headquarters at Brownsville, Texas, 
made repeated trips to Mexican waterfowl areas. An aerial survey was made 
on January 2 and 3 south over the waters of the Laguna Madre on the coast 
of Tamaulipas, and along the western side of the Laguna Tamiahua. Weather 
conditions nullified a plan to scout the lagoons of the Tampico District, 
but the survey was carried south to Tuxtla, Chiapas, which is the southern- 
most of the Mexican states. While the trip was only one way, whereas 
round trips were made in 1939 and 1940, the comparative figures (Table 2) 
are of unusual interest and significance. 
17 
