Insufficient data were obtained from the July inventory to adjust or correct the 
goose production figure given above, Table VIII illustrates the invalidity of attempting 
to derive production figures from comparison of May and July aerial counts. The 
magnitude of goose movements within and across State boundaries for moulting purposes 
is so great that some drainages register a sharp decrease in numbers of geese observed 
between May and July, whereas other drainages show a definite increase. Thereisa 
large influx of geese, for instance, to Pathfinder, Seminoe, and Wheatland Reservoirs 
for moulting purposes which greatly exceeds the sum of the potential brood increment 
and the number of geese found on the North Platte drainage in May. In addition, 
comparisons of ground and aerial counts over the same areas in July of 1952 revealed 
that a large percentage of the broods were not detected from the air, and that many 
others cannot be distinguished from adults at that season. 
Comparative data on trend areas for 1952 and 1953 (Table IX) points to a generally 
poorer breeding season this year. Not only were there 29 percent fewer breeding pairs 
-~-213 in 1952 and 152 in 1953---, but also the total number of goslings observed 
decreased 20 percent, from 343 to 274. Average brood size (4.2) remained the same, 
as in Table VI. 
Further examination of Table VIII shows that the decrease in total geese observed 
between July of 1952 and 1953 was primarily from moulting groups on the Snake and Bear 
River drainages. These birds evidently moved out of their respective drainages in the 
State following the breeding season. The State-wide increase in geese in May of 1953, 
then, was composed of non-breeding pairs and groups; evidence, perhaps of past and 
future productivity, but of no direct bearing on goose production in 1953. 
Table V. - Duck Brood Counts in Wyoming - July, 1953 
Drainage | No. Broods No. Ducklings Av. Brood Size 
Green River 19 115 6.1 
Snake River 12 68 5.7 
Bear River 10 69 6.9 
Salt River 6 31 5.2 
Wind River 12 69 5.8 
Belle Fourche 10 ' 58 5.8 
North Platte 123 662 5.4 
Powder-Tongue 21 123 5.8 
Great Divide Basin 26 168 6.5 
Total ; 239 1, 363 Bae 
Table VI. - Goose Brood Counts in Wyoming - July, 1953 
Drainage No. Broods No. Goslings Av. Brood Size 
Green River 22 91 4.1 
Bear River 17 78 4.6 
Snake River 7 27 3.8 
North Platte 27 108 4.0 

AN 
we) 
Total 73 304 
