a 
Results 
During the spring and summer of 1949 it was estimated that approximately 
82, 400 pairs of ducks nested in California, raising an estimated 320,000 young. The 
total fall resident population of young plus adults was estimated to be about 485, 000 
ducks. 
Comparable data is available this year on the Spring survey of nesting pairs 
for those areas of the State which last year yielded 90 to 95 percent of the State's total 
waterfowl production. Comparable figures of nesting pairs of ducks are presented in 
the following paragraphs with a summary of pertinent data for each unit area. Also 
included are the tables on the total fall population of young plus adults for both 1949 
and 1950. 
ry 
1. Sacramento Valley 
a. Area - 2,400 square miles, 
b. Type - Agricultural land including 200,000 ~ acres of 
rice, plus managed refuges and private gun clubs. 
ey Covérage - 2 1/2 percent aerial 1949 and 1950. 
d. Production Summary: 


Estimated Total Nesting Pairs Total Fall Population 
; Species 1949 ; 1950 1949 1950 
Mallard 28, 000 28,920 140, 000 145, 000 
Gadwall 200 120 1, 000 750 
Pintail 120 40 _ 600 250 
Cinnamon teal 600 440 3,000 2,500. 
Redhead 40 0 200 0 
Total 28, 960 29, 480 144, 800 148, 500 
Coot 500 1, 140 2, 000 . 5,000 
e. Remarks: 3 
No significant change. Nesting pairs in 1949 represented 
35 percent of the State total. Nest studies within the area 
showed decreased nesting success. This was.due to less 
intensive predator control on the specific study areas and 
thus did not apply to the entire Sacramento Valley. 
2. Suisun Marsh 

a. Area - 140 square miles. 
b. Type - Natural tidal saltmarsh, river channels, gun 
clubs and agricultural and pasture land. 
c. Coverage - Aerial 6 percent - 1949, 5.5 percent ~- 1950. 
i 
| 
4 d. Production Summary: 
| Estimated Total Nesting Pairs Total Fall Population 
Speciés’ 1949 1950 1949 1950 
Mallard et 3, 485 1,913 18, 000 10, 000 
Gadwall 187 180 950 900 
Cinnamon teal 68 54 350 350 
Others 50 180 . 250 1; 000 
SS  ee———E—e—— ee 
Total 3,790 2,327 19, 550 12, 250 
