Appendix 
AENTAL WATERFOWL HECONNAISSANCE OF CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA 
Robert H. Smith and Chartes 4, Lawrence 
The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether aerial 
transects would be a feasible means of measuring waterfowl populations in the 
mountainous and inter-mountain areas of British Golumbia, and to cbtain quanti- 
tative data of waterfowl populations for future comparison. 
Work was begun on May 10. In the order worked the areas covered are 
included ar follows! 
1. Fragiter River beyond Chilliwack 
2. Lower end of Pitt Lake 
3. Area of ponde and emeall lakea on high plateau north of 
Princeton 
4, (Okenagnn lake 
5. Williams Lake 
fi, Areas east and weat of Frazier River (from Wiliiame Laka} 
7, From Prince George north to Finley Forks, west to Smithere, 
south to Chileko River and east tao Frasier 
Most of the flight time, covering approximately 3500 miles, was spent 
In feneral reconnaissance of the area, and in searching out areas that would 
be suitable for sampling by aerial transects. For the most part the mountain- 
Cf Areas Are poor waterfowl habitat, and the larger lakes occupying narrow 
valleys are too deep and have too precipitous shores for food waterfowl breed- 
ing habitat. It would be porrible to make aerial ehoreline counts of such 
lakes ae Stuart, Babine, Frencoie, Trembleur, Gotea, GQueanel, and many others, 
if the waterfowl population would Justify euch etudier. The flights indioated, 
however, that except for -~ few golden-eyes and acattered Canada geese, the 
waterfowl population of these large laksa waa negligible. 
In the inter-mcunteain ares, however, notably in the Carl hdl A4ietrict, and 
in the region immediately north and west of Prince George, sizable arear wares 
found that were admirably adapted to sampling by the aerial transect method. 
In fact, it ls about the only method from which a representative sample can be 
obtained due to the Inaccessibllity of the region by other types of transporta- 
tion. These areae vary froc depen park types to typical northern spruce arene, 
The Aspen park type of couree haying the greatest waterfowl densities. Mo 
detailed deseription of the habltatse will be attempted here as no doubt more 
complete information 18 already at hand concerning these than was obtained from 
the serial eurveys. 
The area north of Princeton, in the ricinity cf Aspen Grove, is of the 
Agpen park type, but is eo emall ac to be of little consequence. In a 12 mile 
Yun over the principal water areas 791 ducke, mostly scaup, were counted. As 
many of these were still flocked in fairly eigable getherings,it ia poselble 
that they were migrants, Since the trangect was not random, but wae selected 
to cover the hest water areas, the figuree cannot be placed on a square mile 
baaies. It is probable that 75 percent of the ducks on the unit were s€en, 
og 
