156 
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN IDAHO 
Robert L. Salter 
The waterfowl management survey carried under Federal Aid Project 
84-R was continued in Idaho during the 1952 season. More responsibility for the 
gathering of data was detailed to District Biologists Alvard Kiler, Charles Blake 
and Elwood Bizeau. Mr. F. Sheldon Dart, Refuge Manager, Deer Flat National 
Wildlife Refuge cooperated as in the past on the goose nesting work on the lower 
Snake River. Federal refuge managers Dart and Wallace Leonard contributed 
brood count data gathered on their refuges. Henry M. Reeves submitted brood 
count data collected while working on Federal Aid Project 106-R. Conservation 
officers’ of the Fish and Game Department furnished the results of waterfowl brood 
counts taken while engaged in routine activities. 
Weather, Water and Migration 
March, 1952, was one of the coldest on record. When it did begin warm- 
ing up in April, the process was gradual and irregular. As a result of the late 
spring, waterfowl nesting was delayed about two weeks later than in 1951. Many 
areas of the State had a record or near-record total snowfall during the past winter. 
The very definite danger of spring floods was minimized by the late spring. Flooding 
occurred on the lower Snake River, the Big and Little Wood Rivers and the Portneuf 
River. The only area in which the flooding materially affected waterfowl was in the 
lower Snake River where a number of Canada goose nests were flooded out. The 
heavy snow pack insured adequate permanent water in nesting and brooding areas 
throughout the season. 
The spring migration through Idaho was somewhat later than last year. It 
proceeded at an orderly rate, however. There was no prolonged concentration in 
any area. 
Goose Nesting Study 
The Canada goose nesting study on the lower Snake River and Blackfoot 
Reservoir was continued for the third year. The Homedale Unit work was done in 
cooperation with Mr. F. Sheldon Dart, Refuge Manager, Deer Flat National Wildlife 
Refuge. 
On the Glenns Ferry and Homedale units it is possible to make direct 
comparisons with previous years. These areas have been surveyed in the same 
manner each year, The nest success on the Glenns Ferry unit was somewhat higher 
this year than in the two previous years. There are really not enough nests involved 
here to make the difference significant. 
The Homedale unit definitely had a higher breeding population of geese this 
year than in 1951. The same islands were checked in the same manner by the same 
personnel, In 1951, 151 nests were located compared to 208 in 1952. However, 
the anticipated gain in production did not materialize. Of the total nests, 125 were 
on islands in the stretch of river between Ontario, Oregon and Olds Ferry, Idaho. 
