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Table III. - Washington Waterfowl Production (Total End-of-Summer Population). 

Area 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 
Western Washington 41,500 35,000 31,000 38,000 35,000 
Central Washington 58, 500 63,000 67,000 77,500 92,500 
Eastern Washington 637, 500 588, 000 617,500 287,000 — 285,000 
Total 737, 500 686, 000 715, 500 402,500 412,500 
Canada Goose Production 
The island habitat of the basin Canada Goose on the Snake and Columbia River 
systems of south-central Washington was inventoried in early April for the fifth 
consecutive year following the pattern established in 1950. In addition to the 214 
miles of river included in past surveys, a 51 mile unit of lesser importance farther 
up the Snake River was inventoried in 1954. This latter area (Unit V) supported a 
population of 1.17 pairs of geese per river mile compared with a population of 3.14 
pairs on the lower 35 miles of the Snake River and 5.01 pairs per mile on the much 
larger Columbia River. 
Unit II (see Table IV), that portion of the Columbia River included in the 
McNary Reservoir, lost most of its former nesting habitat late in 1953 when the 
water level was raised to the 350 foot level. Enough geese persisted in using the 
remnants of a few remaining islands, however, to give a density of 2.13 pair per 
river mile. What was once Mitchell Island (600 acres approximately) is now a narrow 
hummock of about one-eighth acre in size. Nine pair of geese nested on this ridge of | 
land in 1954, but it is doubtful if such a density will be tolerated every year. Much, 
but not all, of the loss from the McNary impoundment was reflected in greater nesting 
densities on the Snake River islands (Unit IV). The remainder of the Columbia River 
above and below the McNary Reservoir (Units I and III) apparently absorbed none of 
the emmigration from the flooded area. An over-all loss of about 10 percent in 
resident pairs of geese was noted, but the total production was down only five percent 
due to better hatching success and slightly larger broods. The nesting success on 
273 nests followed to completion was 73 percent, and the average size of Class II 
broods and older was 4.0 young. 
~ 
The loss sustained on the Columbia River was probably accounted for in greater 
production in the scabland waterfowl habitat farther north in the State. Broods of 
geese were observed during the summer in areas not utilized previously. It is estimated 
that 2900 young geese were produced in the area that raised 3050 in 1953. In addition, 
about 175 were raised on the Snake River in the newly surveyed area for a total goose 
production of more than 3000 young on Washington's major river systems. 
