
150 

Estimated Total Nesting Prs. Fall Population Indices 
Species ~ 1952. +1953 1954 1955 1952. +1953. +1954 + +#21955. ~~ 
CG. Goose 3,200 2,850 3,305 2,870 19,240 17,562 21,070 14,810 
Mallard 51,580 40,380 35,695 34,500 271,930 156,990 175,020 165, 360 
Pintail 3,280 2,100 2,375 1,260 21,260 10,110 14,240 7,710 
Gadwall 5,800 6,040 5,450 3,150 41,560 54,650 42,230 24,400 
Cinn. Teal 4,790 3,435 3,695 4,560 27,040 17,910 22,470 30,670 
Redhead 3,380 3,760 6,405 4,220 24,810 34,560 53,300 35,810 
Ruddy 1,510 1,950 3,225 2,990 9,340 9,730 23,360 19,540 
Shoveler 1,120 925 810 530 8,460 3,630 5,410 3,300 
Scaup 290 235 150 180 2,240 1,680 1,270 £1,480 
Others 610 545 490 190 3,250 2,740 2,450 B50 
Total 72,369 59,370 58,295 51,580 409, 890 292,000 339, 750 289,120 
Coots 13,790 25,150 16,110 8,610 61,970 89,250 94,470 43,480 
The accumulated data indicates that the Canada goose breeding popu- 
lation was down 13 percent, while the fall population decreased 30 percent from 
1954. During the past five years an attempt has been made to determine what 
portion of the fall population was comprised of adult breeders, non-breeders, 
and young of the year. The past two years a special flight was made early in 
May to tally the number of breeding pairs and non-breeders. Pairs, singles, 
and groups were tabulated separately. These figures were then compared with 
the counts made during the regular breeding ground flight early in June when 
the peese were recorded as adults with young, young, and groups of adults 
without young (non-breeders and unsuccessful breeders). 
Canada Goose Population in California, 1955 

Breeding Young Non- . Fall Population 
Area Pairs Produced Breeders Indices 
Northeastern Calif. 2,440 2,620 3,560 11,060 
Klamath Basin 430 1,640 1,250 3, 750 
Total 2,870 4,260 4,810 14, 810 
The figures given in the above table are not complete as geese in some 
areas (non-breeders and unsuccessful breeders) move into adjoining states to 
molt, and are not in California when the June census is made. Two out-of-state 
areas that attract peese are upper Klamath Lake in Oregon and Pyramid Lake in 
Nevada. Another source for error is the movement of geese from Oregon into 
the Goose Lake area. These interstate movements point out the need for managing 
these birds on an ecological area basis instead of a geographical basis. 
