The Central Valley received normal or 
above normal amounts of rainfall over the 
entire area, Cool weather prevailed during 
May and June. The rice and associated 
vegetation was 2 to 3 weeks later than 1962, 
mainly due to late rains that retarded rice 
planting. 
Production Indexes 
Comparable data on nesting pairs of water- 
fowl are presented for the various survey 
areas in tables F-10 and F-11 (p. 141). 
The Sacramento Valley area showed an 
increase of 29 percent in breeding pairs 
and total fall population of ducks. The coot 
population increased 77 percent from the 
1962 count. Data from Suisun Marsh indi- 
cates an 85 percent increase in breeding 
pairs and 62 percent in the total fall popu- 
lation of ducks. This area had over a 500 
percent increase in the total fall coot popula- 
tion, Breeding pairs and total fall population 
of ducks in North San Joaquin Valley were 
up 35 percent over 1962 and coots were up 
25 percent on pairs and 43 percent in fall 
population. Breeding pairs of ducks in South 
San Joaquin Valley were down 13 percent and 
the fall population index down 63 percent; 
Coots were 42 percent below 1962. Innorth- 
eastemm..California the number of pairs of 
Canada geese increased 82 percent while the 
fall population index was up 57 percent, The 
fall population increase resulted largely from 
non-breeders from last year’s high pro- 
duction. There was a 96 percent increase 
in breeding pairs and also in the fall popu- 
lation index on ducks. Coots showed a 69 
percent increase in northeastern California. 
The Klamath Basin, a major nesting area, had 
a 15 percent decrease in breeding pairs of 
Canada geese and a 7 percent increase inthe 
fall population index, Breeding pairs of ducks 
increased 75 percent while the fall population 
index indicated a 10 percent increase, Coots 
showed a decrease of 26 percent in breeding 
pairs and fall population index, 
Conclusions 
Statewide, this year’s surveys indicatea 35 
percent increase in the breeding pairs of 
Canada geese and a 39 percent increase in 
fall population index, For ducks, there was 
a 49 percent increase in breeding pairs and 
a 34 percent increase in fall population 
index. Coots showed a 42 percent increase, 
23 
NEVADA 
Data supplied by C. V. Oglesby 
Nevada Fish and Game Department 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Water and habitat conditions showed con- 
tinued improvement againthis year in Nevada. 
A very poor winter snow pack and an ex- 
tremely poor outlook for stored water was 
offset by large amounts of precipitation oc- 
curring during April and May. June precipi- 
tation was considerably above normal and 
along with heavy late spring runoff, helped 
to restore most marsh areas throughout the 
State. Continued runoff from near normal 
mountain snow packs should be sufficient to 
maintain reservoirs and marshes through 
most of the summer. | 
Habitat conditions improved significantly 
in the important waterfowl production areas 
of Lahontan Valley (including Stillwater 
Marsh) in west-central Nevada, This area 
has been adversely affected by drought for 
the past 4 years, Water conditions in all 
marshes and reservoirs located in north- 
eastern Nevada were near normal and in some 
cases provided optimum nesting habitat. 
Breeding Population Indexes 
The breeding ground survey for 1963 was 
conducted in the same manner as inprevious 
years. Complete aerial coverage was made 
of all important marsh and reservoir habi- 
tat. Approximately 600 lineal miles of 
river transects were also covered by air., 
Nesting pair data recorded during aerial 
Surveys are presented in table E-9 (p. 116). 
These data indicate that duck breeding popu- 
lations were up 53 percent over those re- 
corded in 1962. Increases were noted in 
all major species with the most signifi- 
cant increases occurring in redheads (up 87 
percent) and gadwall (up 64 percent). Popula- 
tion increases this year, particularly in 
divers, are attributed to the partial restora- 
tion of drought- stricken marshes, There was. 
no significant change in the Canada goose 
breeding population. 
Production Indexes 
Duck production for Neyada as determined 
by trends in numbers of young produced on 
