spring. The duck production index de¬ 
clined from 2,490 to 1,150 (table B-13). 
An excellent hatch of redheads was 
recorded on all large marshes, but the 
number of ruddy duck broods tallied on 
the transects showed a marked decrease 
(table B-14). 
CALIFORNIA 
Data supplied by J. R. LeDonne, 
F. M. Kozlik, Harry George, 
William Anderson 1 / 
Weather and habitat conditions 
Water conditions in northeastern 
California were nearly normal this year. 
Some water impoundments and marshes 
were drier than last year but still pro¬ 
vided adequate nesting habitat. Rainfall 
was below normal, but snow pack at 
higher elevations provided good runoff to 
most of the production areas. Some 
flooding of nests occurred in the early 
part of June from late rain storms and 
runoff from the snow pack. 
The Central Valley received below 
normal rainfall over the entire area. 
Cool weather prevailed during May and 
June, The rice and associated vegetation 
which provides nesting cover was the 
same as 1963. 
The spring was mild, and migration 
began early. By the end of April most of 
the birds had left the wintering grounds. 
Production index 
The survey flights in the Central 
Valley were conducted on May 21 and 22, 
and those in northeastern California from 
June 1 through June 5. As summarized 
1 / 
Credit is due Edward J. O'Neill and 
Robert Russell of the Tule Lake 
National Wildlife Refuge for 
gathering the data on that area. 
in tables B-15 and B-16, the California 
waterfowl surveys indicate — 
1. A 36 percent decrease in the 
breeding pairs of Canada geese and an 
8 percent decrease in the total fall 
population. 
2. The breeding pairs of ducks were 
essentially the same as 1963; the fall 
population showed an increase of 7 
percent. 
3. The total fall population of coots 
showed a 45 percent increase. 
NEVADA 
Data supplied by C. V. Oglesby 
Nevada Fish and Game Department 
Weather and habitat conditions 
Late winter snowfall and spring rains 
resulted in considerable improvement in 
water and habitat conditions in Nevada. 
Early season forecasts for stored water 
and streamflow were poor, but late winter 
and spring storms brought above normal 
precipitation throughout the northern part 
of the State. 
Reservoir storage as of April 1, 1964, 
was estimated at 85 percent of average, 
with some reservoirs above average. 
East slope Sierra streamflow was down, 
but stored reservoir water was adequate 
to offset most deficiencies in western 
Nevada. Habitat conditions continued to 
show improvement in western Nevada, 
and natural marshes and management 
areas are being restored. 
In contrast to the below average Sierra 
snow pack, the snow pack in the Humboldt 
River drainage in northeastern Nevada 
was near or above average. This im¬ 
proved streamflow and nesting habitat 
along stream courses was good. Flooding 
occurred along the Humboldt River re¬ 
sulting in some loss to early nesting spe¬ 
cies. Water conditions appear adequate 
for good brood survival in most key pro¬ 
duction areas. 
Breeding population index 
The 1964 duck breeding population 
showed an increase of 47 percent over 
9 
