SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS 
pACIFIC FLYWAY 
A eT ee ee 
On the basis of data collected in Alaska, Canada and the > United States 
only, the wintering population of ducks, geese and swan decreased /somewhat/ 
in the Pacific Flyway as compared to a year ago. Populations of brant and coot 
jacreased slightly. Unfortunately, the survey in Mexico was not conducted. 
Since varying proportions of the flyway population of ducks winter in Mexico, it 
ja not certain that the winter survey figures yielded reliable estimates of chang- 
ing population, particularly among the waterfowl species which are commonly 
found south of our borders, 
The breeding ground survey data fail to support the apparent decrease 
shown by the winter survey. In the breeding areas supplying the Pacific Flyway 
there was no significant change in the breeding population in Alaska, Alberta and 
the Northwest Territories. There were small decreases in Saskatchewan, 
Montana and Wyoming, and small increases in California and Washington. Over- 
all, there was little change in the size of the breeding population. 
As usual, weather and water conditions varied considerably within the 
breeding range supplying the flyway. For the most part, the season was early. 
In the Northwest Territories, however, an early warm spell was followed by 
freezing weather through mid-June. In the North Country, as usual, water con- 
ditions were favorable fas they usually are/. In much of the prairie nesting 
habitat drought prevailed throughout most ‘of the spring and summer. Some areas, 
particularly in southern Alberta were completely dry and out of production. Fortu- 
nately, however, the areas were dry when spring migration took place and thus 
were avoided by the birds. At this point it is difficult to evalmte the effect that 
drought will have on the total season's production. 
The July production surveys reveal that there was a large hatch among 
the early nesting species in southern Alberta. Production was above last year in 
Washington, Wyoming, and Nevada. The fall flight from Alaska, southern 
Saskatchewan, and Idaho is estimated to be about the same as last year, while a 
decrease from northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Montana. 
Over-all, it is expected that the fall flight of ducks in the Pacific Fly- 
way will be about the same as last year with some possibility of a small decrease. 
On the basis of a decrease in the breeding population of geese in the 
flyway as measured by the winter survey, it is estimated that there will be a 
small decrease in the fall flight of this group of species. 
The production of coot is reported to be good in the important prairie 
nesting grounds and on this basis it is estimated that there will be a small increase 
in this species. 
In view of the small increase in the breeding population of brant plus 
favorable weather conditions in Alaska, it is estimated that there will be a small 
increase in the fall flight of this species. 
115 
