143 
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. 
c. (Cavetage - 2-1/2 percent aerial 1949, 1950 and 1951, 4-1/2 percent 
aerial in 1952, 
d. Production summary; 
Estimated Total Nesting Pairs Total Fall Population 
1949 1950 1951 1952 1949 1950 1951 1952 
Mallard 28,000 28,920 29,240 34,300 140,000 145,000 150,000 171, 500 
Gadwall 200 120 200 660 1,000 750 1,000 3,000 
Pintail 120 40 0 300 600 250 0 861,500 
Cinn. teal 600 440 400 1,700 3,000 2,500 2,400 8,500 
Redhead 40 0 0 60 200 0 0 300 
Shoveler 0 0 80 40 0 0 400 200 
Total 28,960 29,480 29,920 37,000 144, 800 148,500 153, 800 185, 000 
Coots 500 1,140 1,720 4,500 2,000 5,000 8,000 22,500 
e. Remarks: The Sacramento Valley serves to produce roughly 40 percent 
of the total waterfowl reared in the State. Mallards are by far the most numerous 
nesting duck in the area. Under existing agricultural conditions they will probably 
continue in this role. This area shows an indicated increase of 23 percent in ducks 
and a much larger increase in Coots. In previous years the Sacramento Valley has 
had over 40 percent of the breeding pairs of ducks in the State. The increase noted 
is considered to be significant. The coverage was increased this year to further 
substantiate this indicated increase. 
2. Suisun Marsh 
a. Area - 140 square miles. 
b. Type - Natural tidal marsh, private gun clubs and agricultural land. 
c. Coverage - Aerial: 6 percent in 1949, 5-1/2 percent in 1950, 
5 percent in 1951, 5 percent in 1952. 
d. Production Summary: 

Estimated Total Nesting Pairs Total Fall Population 
1949 1950 1951 1952 1949 1950 1951 1952 
Mallard | 3,485 1,913 980 3,640 18,000 10,000 5,000 18,100 
Gadwall 187 180 340 480 950 900 2,000 2,500 
Cinn, teal 68 54 100 580 350 350 550 2,900 
Others 50 180 20 180 250 1,000 100 900 
Total 3,790 2,327 1,440 4,880 19,550 12,250 7,650 24,400 
Coots - - - 180 2 - - 900 
e. Remarks: Figures this year indicate a 240 percent increase in nesting 
duck pairs. In past years this area had about 2 percent of the total nesting pairs in 
the State. This large increase is significant locally. 
