WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN CALIIORNIA, 1949 
/ 2/ ¥ 
John £. Chattin, A. W. Millar, i. E, Fostar 
Introduction 
Prior to 1948, investigations relating to waterfowl production within the 
State of Californias wers of 4a sporadic nature and where underte*en related sithaor 
to a particular apeciss or a limited arsa, Early in 1946, Fedsral Aid Project, 
30-R, "A Study of Production, Migration and Winterinos Areas of Waterfowl in 
California," was initiated. Froduction studies involving nesting studies, seriel 
trensects, and brood counts wera undertaken in northeastern California, the 
Sacramento Vallay and the Grasslands area in ths San Joaoqyir River valley. 
For ths most part, thess studies wears of a preliminary nature and serves meinly 
to familiarize personnel with various techniques involved end in gaining a vork- 
ing knowledge of the lecal arsas and conditions. 
During 1949, these production studies were continued, 
Credit if also dys the various waterfowl refuge supervisors of both State 
and Fadsral refuges in California for landing assistance in futhering some 
of the fisld duta. 
Pearsonng] ef Federsl Aid in hildlifs Resteration Project, Califotnia 30-R 
cooperated in this study. 
Scope And Methods 
Under conditions sxisting at the present time the primary waterfowl produc- 
tion arsa in Califernia lies in the northeast or “Great Basin" corner of the States, 
This arsa contains numerous natural marshes and artificial water impoundments on 
which over one-half of the ducks in the State area raised. It includes the pro- 
ductive Klamath basin and Tuls Lake and Lower Klameth National Wildlife fefuges 
whieh serves to produce the bulk of the ducks within this sntire rerion. 
The scattered distribution of water araas within this resion mekes it 
impossible to fly asrisl transects, As a résult, this «ntirs arsa was piven 
complet? caverags beth by asrial and ground observation of all weter ress in 
a suryvoy of breeding pairs of ducks. Following the nesting seasan, complets 
Rerial counts were again made te determines the final fall populeticn of water- 
fowl prior to the arrival of the early fall migrant pintsils itn August, This 
involved approximately 4 days [45 hours) of flying time and soms 2,900 milas of 
ground travel, 
lf Game Biologist, Celifornie Division of Fish and Game 
2/ Assistent Game Biclogist, California Divisicn of Fish and Game Project 
Leader FA-30-f 
af Junior fame Biologist, California Fivision af Fish and Geme Project 
Assistant FA-30-R 
JS 
