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PRODUCTIVITY SURVEYS OF GEESE, SWANS, AND BRANT WINTERING IN - 1981

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Office of Migratory Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service PRODUCTIVITY SURVEYS OF GEESE, SWANS, AND BRANT WINTERING IN NORTH AMERICA - 1981

Compiled by: James F. Voelzer Elizabeth Lauxen

This report is for administrative use only and is not for publication without permission of the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE OFFICE OF MIGRATORY BIRD MANAGEMENT COLUMBIA, MO. - 1982 • TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

I. INTRODUCTION . . . . A. Atlantic Flyway Abstract 1

8 . Central and Mississippi Flyway Abstract. 1

C. New Mexico Abstract. . 2 D. Pacific Flyway Abstract. 2 E. Abstract. . . . 3

II. WATERFOWL PRODUCTIVITY SURVEYS FOR THE ATLANTIC FLYWAY, 1981 4 A. Abstract. 4 8. Narrative. 4 1. Greater Snow Geese 4 2. Atlantic Brant. 5

3. Whistling Swans. 5 4. Conclusions . .. 6 5. Reconmendations. 6 C. Tables .. 7 1. No. 1 - Greater Snow Productivity Data 1981. 7

2. No. 2 - Brant Surveys - 1981-1982 ... 8 3. No. 3 - Atlantic Brant Productivity Data 1981. 9 • 4. No. 4 - Whistling Swan Productivity Data 1981 . 10

ii Page I I I. WATERFOWL PRODUCTIVITY SURVEYS FOR CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS, 1981. 11

A. Abstract. 11

B. Narrative. 11 l. Mid-Continent Snow Geese 12 2. Mid-Continent White-fronted Geese. 12

C. RecolTlllendations. 13 D. Tables ..... 14 l . No. l - Snow Geese, 70-90 Percent Blue Phase, 1981/82, Louisiana ...... 14 2. No. 2 - Snow Geese, 60-65 Percent White Phase, 1981/82, Texas...... 15 3. No. 3 - Snow Geese, 60-65 Percent White Phase, 1981/82, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota-aeri a 1 ...... 16 4. No. 4 - Snow Geese, 70-90 Percent Blue Phase, 1981/82, Early Fall, SW Louisiana ...... 17 5. No. 5 - White-fronted Geese, Eastern Segment, 1981/82, Louisiana ...... 18 6. No. 6 - White-fronted Geese, Western Segment, 1981/82, • Kansas, Texas ...... 19

IV. PRODUCTIVITY SURVEYS FOR NEW MEXICO, 1981 . 20 A. Abstract. . 20 B. Narrative. 20 l . Bosque del Apache NWR. 20 2. Bitter Lake NWR .... 21 3. Mexico, S.E. Co lorado, and Texas {Panhandle) 21 a. Mexico . 21

b. S.E. Co lorado .. . 22 c. Texas Panhandle. 22 C. Discussion . . . . . 22 iii Page D. Reco1T111endations ...... 23 E. Attachment 1. List of Cooperators 24 F. Tables: 1. No. 1 - New Mexico wintering snow and Ross' geese peak fall populations ...... 25 2. No. 2 - Snow goose survey data, New Mexico, Texas, SE Colorado and Mexico Highlands ...... 26 3. No. 3 - Snow geese observed in the Texas Panhandle during the December and January waterfowl surveys ...... 27 4. No. 4 - Snow geese observed in SE Colorado, peak number, plus January and December waterfowl surveys. . . . 28 5. No. 5 - Lesser snow goose and Ross' goose harvest, New Mexico ...... 29 6. No. 6 - Bosque del Apache NWR, all goose harvest . 30 7. No. 7 - Historical data - snow goose productivity surveys, New Mexico ...... 31 8. No. 8 - Snow goose population and age ratio data, New Mexico, 1960-1981...... 32 • 9. No . 9 - 1981 Productivity survey field data at Bosque del Apache NWR ...... 33 10. No.10 - Age ratio and family group data - snow geese, New Mexico - 1981 (Bosque del Apache NWR)...... 34 11. No. 11 - 1981 productivity survey field data at Bitter Lake NWR...... 35 12. No. 12 - Age ratio and family group data - snow geese, New Mexico - 1981 (Bitter Lake NWR)...... 36

V. WATERFOWL PRODUCTIVITY SURVEYS FOR THE PACIFIC FLYWAY, 1981. 37 A. Abstract . 38 • B. Narrative. 38

l. Lesser Snow Geese (Wrangle Island) 38 2. Lesser Snow Geese (Western Arctic) 38

3. Ross I Geese...... 39 iv Page 4. White-fronted Geese. 39

5. Tule Geese ... 39

6. Trumpeter Swans. 39 • 7. Whistling Swans. 39 8. Recomnendations. 40

C. Attachment 1. List of Cooperators 41 D. Tables: 1. No. 1 - Snow goose age ratio data, Freeze-out Lake, MT, 1981 ...... 42 2. No. 2 - Snow goose age ratio dat, Sacramento NWR, CA, 1981 . . . 42 3. No. 3 - Snow goose age ratio data, Los Banos Wildlife Area, CA, 1981 ...... 43 4. No. 4 - White-fronted goose age ratio and family group data, Tule Lake NWR, CA, 1981 . . . . . 43 5. No. 5 - Trumpeter swan age ratio data, 1981. . . 44 6. No. 6 - Whistling swan age ratio data, UT, 1981. 44 7. No. 7 - Whistling swan family group counts, UT, 1981 45 ·.

VI. WATERFOWL PRODUCTIVITY SURVEYS, ALASKA, 1981 46 A. Abstract . 46 B. Narrative. 47 1. Black Brant. 47 2. Trumpeter Swan 48 3. .. 48 4. Cackling . 49 5. Dusky Canada Goose 49 C. References 50 D. Attachment 1. List of Cooperators 51

V Page

E. Tables: 1. No . 1 - Black Brant - Clutch and Brood Sizes . 53 .. 2. No. 2 - Black Brant - Fall Productivity Counts 54 3 . No. 3 - Sample Alaska Trumpeter Swan Observations for 44 Maps (19% of Habitat)...... 55 4. No. 4 - Sample Alaska Trumpeter Swan Summary Data for 44 Maps (19% of Habitat). . . . . 56 5. No. 5 - Alaska Trumpeter Swan Survey Samples for 1981. 56 6. No. 6 - Emperor Goose - Clutch and Brood Sizes . 57 7. No. 7 - Emperor Goose - Fall Productivity Counts 58 8. No. 8 - Cackling Canada Goose - Clutch and Brood Sizes 59 9. No. 9 - Dusky Canada Goose - Breeding Ground Survey. 60

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vi 1

PRODUCTIVITY SURVEYS OF GEESE, SWANS, AND BRANT WINTERING IN NORTH AMERICA - 1981

Reproductions of abstracts for each area are shown below for quick reference. Details of individual surveys may be found in the body of this report (see Table of Contents). Any questions with regard to selected species or areas should be directed to the individual coordinators listed below: l. Atlantic F1 way - Mr. James R. Goldsberry, Flyway Biologist, Patuxent Wi 1dlife Research Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland 20811 2. Central and Mississippi Flyways - Mr. Arthur R. Brazda, Flyway Biologist, U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service, Municipal Airport, Lafayette, Louis iana 70509 3. New Mexico - Mexico - Mr. James F. Voelzer, Flyway Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 700 Cherry St., Suite D, Columbia, Missouri 65201 4. Pacific Flyway - Mr. Carey S. Smith, Flyway Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lloyd 500 Building, Suite 1692, 500 NE Multnomah St., Portland, Oregon 97232 5. Alaska - Mr. Bruce Conant , Wildlife Biologist, Waterfowl C Investigations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Box 1287, Juneau, Alaska 99802 Atlantic Flyway Abstract - Productivity surveys in the Atlantic flyway of greater snow geese, Atlantic brant, and whistling swans were conducted in November 1981 . Results indicate a decline in production for snow geese and brant, and an increase for whistling swan. Survey results for snow geese show 17.0% juveniles and 2.0 young per family compared to 36.4% juveniles and 2.7 young per family in 1980. Brant results indicate 17.9% young-of-the-year and an average brood size of 2.4 compared to 33.7% juveniles and 2.6 young per family in 1980. Swan data show 30.2% juveniles and 2.3 young per family compared to 10.5% juveniles and a mean brood size of 1.8 in 1980 . Central and Mississippi Flyway Abstract - Productivity records from Louisiana wintering snow geese, which are predominantly blue phase, indicated 20.7% juveniles with an average young/family of l .57 . • Data obtained from the snow geese that winter in Texas, where the white phase is more prevalent, revealed 34 .6% were juveniles and an average brood size of 1.83. The eastern segment of white-fronted geese, which winter primarily in Louisiana, indicated 38.4% were juveniles with an average number of young/ family of 2.00. 2

Data for the western segment of whitefronts, wintering in Texas and central Mexico, indicated 29.3% were juveniles. The average young/family was 2.73 . .. New Mexico Abstract - Comprehensive productivity surveys of snow geese wintering in New Mexico continued in 1981 for the fifth consecutive year. At Bosque del Apache NWR, a total of 5,107 records were obtained from a refuge population of 28,000 white geese. Weighted survey results indicate 19% juveniles with an average number of young per family of 2.00. Blue phase comprised 2% of the total population. Fowl cholera, which was encountered initially in 1980, accounted for a loss of approximately 150 snow geese and 50 ducks in 1981. The peak white goose population was reached on 4 December 1981 when 28,000 geese were recorded. Surveys of snow geese at Bitter Lake NWR were conducted between 16 November and 13 December . A total of 1,656 samples were obtained from a varying refuge population. Weighted results indicated 37% young-of-the-year, and an average brood size of 1.79. Blue phase birds totaled 2% of the population. The peak population of white geese was noted 13 November when 30,000 birds were tallied. Movement of snow and (probably) Ross' geese in southeast Colorado and the Texas panhandle confonned to traditional patterns. Pacific Flyway Abstract - Results of the 1981 Productivity Surveys in the Pacific Flyway as compared to 1980 data are as follows: Average Number Percent Young Young/Family Species 1980 1981 1980 1981 Lesser snow geese (Wrangle Island) Alaska 38.0 Washington 11.0-23.0 34.4-49.5 Lesser snow geese (Western Arctic) Alaska 7.4 Montana 24.4 23.0-29. l 20.9-31.7 1. 98 White-fronted geese • California 26.2 26.3 2. 18 1.85 Tule geese Alaska 13 .8 34.0 California 33.8 37.0 3

{Pacific Flyway Abstract Continued . . ) • Average Number Percent Young Young/Family • Species 1980 1981 1980 1981 Trumpeter swan Montana 1.8 18.8 Wyoming 7.5 24.2 Idaho 12.0 22.5 Whistling swans Alaska 26 .4 2.09 Utah 28.4 25.2 2.32 2.11

A1 a s ka Abstract- Black brant - a below average year Average clutch size 3.57 North Slope Average clutch size 3.57}- Nesting success 71.7% Yukon-Kuskokwim Average brood size {Class I) 3.01 Fall counts 18 .6% young ~ 2.80 avg. family__J-Izembek 13.5% young Skagi t Winter population 113,402 Mexico Trumpeter swan • Alaska breeding population - a good year Average brood size 3.9 Young in population 30% Pai rs \-Ji th brood 42% Western Canada breeding population Young in population 25% approx. Emperor goose - apparently a good year Spring survey 91,267 Unimak Island to Y-K Delta Average clutch size 4.87 Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Fall counts 27.4% young~~ ~ 3.22 avg . family__J__Izembek & AK Pen. Cackling Canada goose - probably a poo~ear Average clutch size 4.8 Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Nesting success 60% Dusky Canada goose - apparently a below average year Average clutch size 4.9 _rCopper River Delta Breeding population survey 17 .9% young 4

TITLE: Waterfowl Productivity Surveys for Atlantic Flyway 1981 SPECIES SURVEYED: Greater Snow Geese (Anser caerulescens atlantica) Atlantic Brant ( bernicla hrota) • Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbian~ COOPERATORS: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation New Department of Environmental Protection Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service Brigantine Refuge Chincoteaque Refuge Pungo Refuge East Coast Biologist, Washington, NC Office of Migratory Bird Management REPORTED BY: James R. Goldsberry, Office of Migratory Bird Management ABSTRACT : Productivity surveys in the Atlantic flyway of greater snow geese, Atlantic brant, and whistling swans were conducted in November 1981. Results indicate a decline in production for snow geese and brant, and an increase for whistling swan. Survey results for snow geese show 17.0% juveniles and 2.0 young per family compared to 36.4% juveniles and 2.7 young per family in 1980. Brant results indicate 17.9% young-of-the-year and an average brood size of 2.4 compared to 33.7% juveniles and 2.6 young per family in 1980. Swan data show 30.2% juveniles and 2.3 young per family compared to 10.5% juveniles and a mean brood size of 1.8 in 1980. NARRATIVE : • Methods: The procedures followed in conducting the survey are contained in the Draft Standard Operating Procedures for Waterfowl Productivity Surveys of Geese, Swans, and Brant 1977. Snow Geese Population Data: The 1981 spring aerial photographic census on the St. Lawrence River indicated approximately 175,000 birds returning to the nesting grounds. Productivity Appraisals : Productivity Surveys were conducted on 17,229 greater snow geese in New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia (Table 1). The percentage of young in the flocks varied from 14 .8% to 26.0% and averaged 17.0%. This was a decrease from the average 1980 figure of 36.4%. The mean number of young per family of 2.0 was also a decline from 2.7 young per family in 1980. Problems: The total disparity between total counts of greater snow geese on the St. Lawrence River and those on the U.S. wintering grounds continue to baffle managers. Aerial photos were taken of snow geese staging on Delaware Bay in the spring of 1981 in another effort to solve the problem. Photos were counted and totaled 99,000 5

birds, still 76,000 below the staging populations on the St. Lawrence. Numbers of snow geese feeding and resting on croplands in the interior of the Delmarva Peninsula and in North Carolina continue to increase yearly. Depredation complaints have increased proportionally and a major problem now exists. Atlantic Brant Population Data: The Atlantic brant population wintering in New Jersey suffered a major set-back because of a winter die-off during severe weather in 1976-77 . Fall surveys in 1976 indicated a population of 115,400; mid-winter populations indicated 74,000 and following the most severe weather, a February 1977 survey found only 52,000. In May 1977 a survey of spring migrating brant indicated only 36,000. In 1977, the fall flight of brant on a December 1st survey showed a total of 61,000 brant, or nearly a 48% decrease from the 1976 fall flight. Brant again died of starvation in New Jersey during the winter of 1977-78, and became a serious pest in the seaside resorts when they took over neighborhood lawns looking for forage. Winter starvation coupled with a poor nesting season in 1978 reduced the fall flight of Atlantic brant to a low comparable to that of the late l930's. Since the die-off in 1976-77 and 1977-78, four surveys of brant have been conducted each year on the wintering grounds. This year, because of the population increase, only the 1982 mid-winter survey was conducted. A post-stress survey will also be conducted to determine the population returning to the breeding grounds. This, following both the first hunting season in several years and the severe winter of 1981-82 . • Productivity Appraisals: A total of 26,018 brant were observed and aged in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia during the fall of 1981. The data indicated 17.9% juveniles for 1981, compared to 33.7% juveniles in 1980. Young per family decreased from 2.6 in 1980 to 2.4 in 1981. For productivity data see Table 3. Problems: The Atlantic brant have recovered from the die-off suffered during 1977 and 1978. With recovery has come a gradual change from wetland feeding to upland feeding. This could lead to a permanent switch from traditional feeding habits in the future. Whistling Swan Population Data: The southerly trend of swan wintering areas continues with large numbers of birds moving into the Back Bay area of Virginia and Currituck, Mattamuskeet and Pungo areas of North Carolina. In these areas swans have moved almost exclusively to field feeding. Productivity Appraisals: A total of 1,479 swans were observed and aged in Maryland and North Carolina during the fall of 1981. The data indicated 30 .2% juveniles for 1981, compared to 10.5% juveniles in 1980. For productivity data see Table 4. 6

Problems: Swans pose a problem for ground productivity studies because of an almost total shift to field feeding in small flocks. In addition, crop depredation reports continue to increase as a result of this change in feeding habits. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Productivity studies indicate that greater snow geese had a good nesting year. 2. Atlantic brant had another good nesting season and have recovered to population levels prior to winter die-offs in 1977-78. 3. Aerial photography efforts of staging snow geese i n New Jersey did not solve the population difference between Atlantic flyway counts and spring counts on St. Lawrence River. REC0""1ENDATI0NS: 1. The productivity studies be continued and conducted simi larly in 1982. 2. That productivity workshops be held occasionally to insure that cooperators are trained as personnel change. 3. Snow goose and swan photos continue in 1982 with the shift to aging rather than total count in the middle Atlantic Coast .

• • •

Table J. • Gredter Snow Goose Productivity Data 1981

%Imm . Avg. If Date Locality In Families Other Total Total Total Total Young /!Fam. Ads. Innn . Ads. Imm . Ads. Imm. Birds Birds Per Fam.

November 1980 Maryland 30 59 95 829 217 888 312 1, 2'l') 26.0 3.2

Virginia 395 431 707 2,464 94 ?. ,R95 801 3,696 21. 6 1. 13

New Jersey 70 139 181 10,369 1,644 10,508 1,825 12,333 14.8 2 .4

Total 1981 495 629 983 13,662 1,g55 14,291 2,938 17,229 17.0 2.0

Total 198') 412 784 1,104 7,1()5 3,479 7,989 4,583 12,572 36.4 2.7 •

Table 2.

Brant Surveys 1981-82

Date MA RI CN NY NJ DE MD VA NC Totals

Mid-winter 4,037 212 80 16, 653 53,605 2,817 400 11, 770 7,500 97,074 1981

November 15,853 68,625 11),035 94, 513 1981

Mid-winter 1,700 10() 300 14,925 63,000 4,325 1,()00 17, 5'1') 3,463 1% , 313 1982 • • •

Table 3. Atlantic Brant Productivity Data 1981

%Imm. Avg. II Date Locality In Families Other Total Total Total Total Young /IFam. Ads. Imm. Ads . Imm. Ads. Imm. Birds Birds Per Fam.

November 1981 New York 8,874 1,287 10,161 12.6

Virginia 375 745 872 1,904 402 2,64~ 1,274 3,923 32.4 2.3

New Jersey 148 295 377 9,540 1, 722 9,835 2,n99 11,934 17 . 6 2.6

Total 1981 523 1, ')41) 1,249 11,444 2,124 21,358 4,660 2~,()18 17. 9 2.4

Total 1980 622 1,232 1,637 15,247 6,733 16,66g 8, 370 24,8L.9 33.7 2.6 •

Table 4. Whistling Swan Productivit y Data 1981

%Imm. Avg. II Date Locality In Families Other To tal Total Total Total Young IIFam . Ads. Imm . Ads . Imm. Ads. Imm. Birds Birds Per Fam.

November 1981 Maryland 16 32 37 292 l ')'3 '324 140 464 30.2 2 .3

December 1981 tforth Carolina 708 3'17 708 3n7 1,015 31). 2

Total 1981 16 32 37 1,000 410 1,()32 447 1,479 3().2 2.3

Total 1980 19 36 35 1,807 182 1,843 217 2,060 10.5 1. 8

0 11

TITLE: Goose Productivity Surveys for the Central and Mississippi Flyways, October , 1981-January 1982. SPECIES: Lesser Snow Geese (Anser c. Caerulescens) White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) COOPERATORS: State Conservation Agencies Kansas, Nebraska U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Off ice of Migratory Bird Management Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Del ta National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Kansas Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri REPORTED BY: Arthur R. Brazda, Flyway Biologist ABSTRACT: Productivity records from Louisiana wintering snow geese , which are predominantly blue phase, indicated 20.7% juveniles with an average young / famil y of 1.57 . Data obtained from t he snow geese that winter in Texas, where the wh i te phase is mor e prevalent , revealed 34.6% were juveniles and an average brood size of 1.83 . • The eastern segment of wh i te-fronted geese, which winter primarily in Louisiana , indicated 38.4% were juvenil es with an average number of young/family of 2.00. Data for the western segment of whitefronts, wintering in Texas and central Mexico , indicated 29.3% were juveniles. The average young/fami ly was 2.73. NARRATIVE : I . Methods: The procedures fol lowed in conducting the survey are contained in the Draft Standard Operating Procedures for Waterfowl Productivity Su rveys of Geese, Swans, and Brant, 1977. II . Results : Snow goose data are separated based on dominant color phase , origin, and winter terminus. Data for wh i te-fronted geese are presented individually for the eastern and western segments. Again separation is based on breedi ng ground origin and winter terminus. Data are shown in • Tables 1-6 . 12

Mid-Continent Snow Geese • The snow geese that winter in Louisiana are predominantly blue phase (70-90%) and are thought to have a more easterly Arctic breeding ground origin than their western counterparts, where the white phase is more prevalent. Based on 14,906 production records (Table 1), results indicated 20.7% juveniles with an average family size of 1.57 goslings. Additionally, 8,086 records obtained in October prior to the hunting season (Table 4) indicated that 25.2% were juveniles with an average number of young/family of 2.02. Texas snow goose productivity data (Table 2) and supporting data from three states to the north (Table 3) show the percent juveniles to be 34.6 and 33.0 respectively. The average number of young per family for the Texas population was 1.83. As previously alluded to, these snow geese are 60-65% white phase. Their breeding grounds range from the western coast of the Hudson Bay northwest into the Victoria Island region. Comparing data from the two primary wintering areas, Loui siana and Texas, the mid-continent snow geese from the more westerly breeding grounds appear to have had a more successful production year, with approximately 14% more juveniles in the overall population. This more successful production effort was substantiated by data gathered earlier in the fall / win t er season from Missouri, Nebraska, and North Dakota. Mid-Continent White-fronted Geese The mid-continent white-fronted goose population has been divided as follows: Eastern Segment - those white-fronts whose breeding range genera1 y encompasses the area betwee9 the west coast of ~he Hudson Bay and 109 6OOW longitude, and between 60 OON latitude and 70 OON latitude. These geese are believed to winter primarily in southwestern Loui siana and extreme southeastern Texas . The Western ~egment - those white-fronts whose breeding range is basically west of 109 OOW longitude into north central Alaska, and whose winter range extends from Kansas through east Texas and into central Mexico. White-front productivity data for both segments are shown in Tables 5 and 6. Though both segments experienced successful production efforts in 1981, the eastern segment indicated a higher percentage of juven i les than did the western segment. In 1980, the eastern geese also had a higher percent age of young. In Louisiana, 6,156 records, representing an estimated 65,000 white-fronts , indicated 38.4% juveniles with an average young/ family of 2.00. Percent juveniles in 1980 wa s 39.0. In Kansas and Texas, where quantitative data are lacking, 1,676 records were obtained from 18,000 of the approximately 65,000 white-fronts in the area. The percent juveniles for this segment was 29.3, and the average young/family was 2.73. 13

III. Reconrnendations l. Increase the effort to obtain top quality data, either by training schools or by individual instruction. 2. Advise program advice coordinators as to what key refuge complexes data are desired .

• • • PRODUCTIVITY DATA Table 1. Snow Geese, 70-90 Percent Illue Phase, 1981/82. Louisiana

IN FAMILIES OTHER Total Total Total % Iunn. Avg. Flock Area LOCALITY Ads. Imm. Birds of Yg. Per Size Popu- II Fam. Ad s. luun. Ads . Imm. Tot. Birds Fam. lation 11/12/81 4 areas 3,096 935 4,031 23.2 20,000 70,000 S. aerCei atl 12 / 8/81 Welsh 65 120 121 983 212 1,103 333 1,436 23.2 1.86 10,000 20,000 12/15 L. Arthur 873 206 1,079 19 . 1 20 ,000 20,000 12/15-18 Thornwall 2,369 613 2,982 20.6 15,000 40,000 12/16 Bell City 1,590 446 2 ,036 21. 9 20,000 40,000 12/16 Delta NWR 602 122 724 16.9 9,000 12,000 12/28 N. Gueydan 4 8 5 114 36 122 41 163 25.2 1. 25 800 7,000 12/81-1/8, ll5 213 154 641 2 854 156 1 ,010 15.4 1.34 10,000 20,000 1/1/82 Crowley 6 11 10 262 101 273 111 384 28 . 9 1.67 2 ,000 5,000 1/5 Thornwall 5 10 6 175 46 185 52 237 21. 9 1. 20 1,500 40,000 1/5 NW -LArthur 17 31 24 626 143 657 167 824 20.3 1.41 5,000 18,000 12/15 Delta NWR 60 94 10S 1.80

unwP.ighted 272 487 428 2,001 540 11,724 3,182 14,906 TOTALS 21. 3 1.57 ll3 , 30( 292,000 weighted 20.7 •

PRODUCTIVITY DATA Table 2. Snow Geese, 60-65 Percent White Phase, 1981/82. Texas

IN FAMILIES OTHER Total Total Total % ltmn. Avg. Flock Area LOCALITY Ads. Itmn. Birds of Yg. Per Size Popu- I Fam. Ads. ltmn. Ads. Itmn. Tot. Birds Fam. lation

12/2/81NWI 56 101 Anahuac 108 287 43 388 151 539 28 . 0 1.93 4,000 35 ,000 12/3 NWR 67 110 117 187 39 297 156 453 34.4 1. 75 6,000 35,000 Anahuac 1/82 Eag lE 860 503 1,363 12,000 Lake 36.9 100.000

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unweighted _. TOTALS u, 123 211 225 474 82 1 , 545 810 2,355 34.4 1.83 22,000 170,000

weighted 34 . 6 •

PRODUCTIVITY DATA Table 3. Snow Geese, 60-65 Percent White Phase, 1981/82. Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota - aerial

IN FAMILIES OTHER Total Total Total % Imm. Avg. LOCALITY Flock Area Ads . lnnn. Birds of Yg. Per Size Popu- Fam. Ads. Innn. u Ads . Imm. Tot. Birds Fam. lation (aerial) N. uak. . 11/16/82 N. Dak-Nel~ lrn Co . 2 ,100 1,100 3. 200 34.4 10,000 11/16 N.Dak-Stut l5man Co . 1,960 1,040 3,000 34.7 5,000 11/16 N. Oak-Stu~ ltlman Co. 900 500 1,400 35 . 7 22,000 11/16 NWE N. Dak-Arrc ~good 1,511 679 2,190 31.0 5,000 11/16 N.I la k LaMoure Cc . 2,205 945 3,150 30.0 40,000 11/16 N.Il chc NE Jamestc k.ln 2,707 1,273 3,980 32.0 41,000 11/16 N.I :" k LaMoure Cc . 2 ,881 1,419 4,300 33.0 125,000 11/16 Net . Plattsmoutll 1,687 831 2,518 33.0 60,000 12/4 Mo. Squaw Laki Imm 395 224 619 36 . 2 30,000

unweighted TOTALS 16,346 8,011 124,357 32.9 338,000 weighted 33 .0

O'I • •

PRODUCTIVITY DATA Table 4 . Snow Geese, 70-90 Percent Blue Phase, 1981/82 Early Fall, SW Louisiana

IN FAMILIES OTHER Total Total Total % Imm. Avg. Flock Area LOCALITY Ads. Imm. Birds of Yg. Per Size Popu- # Fam. Ads . Imm. Ads. Imm. Tot. Birds Fam. lation 10/13 SW Gueydar 34 67 62 454 73 521 135 656 20.6 1.82 5 ,000 5,000 10/15 SE Hayes 41 77 91 878 232 955 323 1,278 25.3 2. 22 12,000 12,000 10/20 SE Hayes 119 228 240 1,410 361 1,638 601 2,239 26.8 2 . 02 21 ,000 21,000 10/22 Gueydan 17 34 33 143 54 177 87 264 33.0 1.94 1,100 1,100 11/27 Klondyke 62 119 134 1,445 392 1,564 526 2,090 25 . 2 2.16 12,000 12 ,000 10/29 Gueydan 21 41 39 418 124 459 163 622 26 . 2 1.86 17,000 17,000 11/5 SE Hayes 20 38 35 739 125 777 160 937 17.1 1. 75 5,000 5,000

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unwe i ghted TOTALS 314 604 634 5 ,l,87 11., 361 6,091 1,995 8 ,086 24 . 7 2 . 02 73 , 100 73 ,100 weighted 25 . 2 • •

PRODUCTIVITY DATA Table 5. White-fronted Geese. Eastern Segment. 1981/82. Louisiana

IN FAMILIES OTHER Total Total Total % Imm. Avg. Flock Area LOCALITY Ads . Imm. Birds of Yg . Per Size Popu- # Fam. Ads. Imm. Ads. Imm. Tot. Birds Fam. lation

10/13 Gueydan 17 32 32 206 66 238 98 336 29.1 1.88 1 . 000 1 . 000 10/15 Hayes 57 109 128 357 253 466 381 847 45 . 0 2.25 7 . 000 1.000 10/ 20 Hayes 110 205 231 712 501 41 7 732 1.649 44.4 2. 10 13 . 000 13.ooo 10/ 22 Gueydan 14 27 24 284 81 311 105 416 25.2 1. 71 1 . 500 1.500 10/27 Klondyke 29 57 53 306 145 363 198 561 35 . 3 1.83 2,500 6.000 10/29 Gueydan 16 32 34 163 70 145 104 299 34.8 2.13 2.100 5,000 11/15 Hayes 79 153 141 531 321 684 462 1,146 40.3 1. 78 10.000 10.000 10/19 Lacassine tiWR 607 295 607 295 902 32.7 18, 000 18, 000

- unweighted TOTALS 322 615 643 3, 166 1,732 3,781 2.375 6,156 38.6 2.00 55,100 61,500 . weighted _, 38.4 CX> • • PRODUCTIVITY DATA Table 6. White-fronted Geese, Western Segment, 1981/82. Kansas, Texas

IN FAMlLIES OTHER Total Total Total % Imm . Avg. Flock Area LOCALITY Ads . Inun. Birds of Yg. Per Size Popu- I Fam. Ads . Imm. Ads. Imm . Tot. Birds Fam. lation

11/24 /81 I l.elnsas Quivira ffil 626 220 626 220 846 26 .0 11 ,000 11, 000

10/29/81 1)I • Anahuac m.F 22 39 60 45 17 84 77 161 47.8 273 2,000 4,000 1/ 82 Tex. 475 194 475 194 669 29.0 5 ,000 50,000 Eagle Lake

-

unweighted I.O TOTALS 22 39 60 1,146 431 1,185 491 1,676 29.3 ~73 18,000 65 ,000 weighted 29.3 20

TITLE: Snow Goose Productivity Surveys for New Mexico, 1981 • SPECIES SURVEYED: Lesser Snow Geese (Anser caerulescens) COOPERATORS: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Migratory Bird Management Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge Colorado Division of Wildlife New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Texas Parks and Wildlife Department REPORTED BY: James F. Voelzer

ABSTRACT: Comprehensive productivity surveys of snow geese wintering in New Mexico continued in 1981 for the fifth consecutive year. At Bosque del Apache NWR, a total of 5,107 records were obtained from a refuge population of 28,000 white geese. Weighted survey results indicate 19% juveniles with an average number of young per family of 2.00. Blue phase birds comprised 2% of the total population. Fowl cholera, which was encountered initially in 1980, accounted for a loss of approximately 150 snow geese and 50 ducks in 1981. The peak white goose population was reached on 4 December 1981 when 28,000 geese were recorded . • Surveys of snow geese at Bitter Lake NWR were conducted between 16 November and 13 Decembe r . A total of 1,656 samples were obtained from a varying refuge popu lation . Weighted results indicated 37% young-of-the-year, and an average brood size of 1.79. Blue phase birds totaled 2% of the population. The peak population of white geese was noted on 13 November when 30,000 birds were tallied. Movement of snow and (probably) Ross' geese in southeast Colorado and the Texas panhandle conformed to traditional patterns. NARRATIVE : I . Methods: The procedures followed in ccnducting the surveys are contained in the (Draft) Standard Operating Procedures for Waterfowl Productivity Surveys of Geese, Swans, and Brant, 1977. II. Results: • Bosque del Apache NWR: For only the second year since the 1960/61 season, when snow geese were first noted, a new peak population was not recorded on the refuge (Table 1). Productivity surveys were conducted on 4 and 5 December 1981. This effort 21

coincided with the presence of the peak population (28,000) of white geese. In total, 5,107 records were obtained (Tables 9 and 10), the results of which indicated a weighted total of 19% juveniles and a mean brood size of 2.00. Blue phase snow geese comprised 2% of the refuge population (Table 7). Fowl cholera was diagnosed as the cause of death of 150 snow geese. This was a ten-fold increase over the 15 birds lost in 1980 when the disease was first noted on the refuge. Ross' geese (Anser rossii) were again observed intennixed with the snow geese, but attempts to locate "pure" flocks which could be adequately surveyed were not successful . Ross' geese comprised 13.6% of the refuge goose harvest (Table 6). Bitter Lake NWR: The peak population of 30,000 white geese on 13 November was a decrease of 45,000 from last year's record. Peak numbers have fluctuated more frequently at Bitter Lake than at Bosque Refuge (Table 1) and seem, in part, to be a function of the number of juveniles in the population. Speculation has been that a differential migration exists and that the more productive birds linger at Bitter Lake until the food supply is exhausted and then join the sub-adults and less productive groups in Mexico. Jerry French reports that the first goose of the fall was recorded on 25 September. By mid-October there were only three geese, but the totals increased thereafter to 12,000 by Halloween and 30,000 by 13 November . Productivity surveys were conducted on 16, 17, and 18 November and 13 • December. Weighted results reveal that 37% of the 1,656 samples were young-of-the-year, with a mean brood size of 1.79 {Tabl es 11 and 12). Blue phase birds comprised 2% of the population. Historical productivity data for both refuges is presented in Tables 7 and 8. Mexico, Southeast Colorado, and Texas (Panhandle): A. Mexico: Aerial surveys of white geese in the highlands of northern Mexico were conducted in December 1981 and January 1982. These surveys were timed to coordinate with the Central Flyway midwinter goose survey (December) and the continental midwinter waterfowl survey (January). Results of both surveys along with corresponding data from New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas are presented in Table 2. Of particular interest this year is a new peak population count obtained during the January effort. Questions concerning popu lation interrelationships and trends are expanded in this report under Section III, Discussion. Aerial photographs were taken during the December survey in an effort to obtain age ratio data on the white geese wintering in Mexico. Although numerous useful slides were found, results were not available in time for this report. Those results and their possible relationship to the migration ! and wintering habits of the white geese referred to in this report will be presented and discussed in subsequent issues. Wintering habitat, which had been devastated by several years of drought, 22

has generally recovered. Crop yields have returned to normal and water levels in the reservoirs have filled to traditional levels. A few pockets of drought still remain north of San Luis Potosi and south of Juarez, but should have little effect on wintering geese. B. S.E. Colorado: Wintering snow geese do not presently occur in sufficient numbers to warrant a productivity survey effort. Fall and winter populations of snow geese and notable occurrences within the migrating and wintering population will continue to be documented in this report (Tables 2 and 4). Of singular importance this year is the fact that as of 23 February 1982, fowl cholera has not been detected. Thirty-five snow geese were found dead from the disease on 13 February 1981; the first time cholera losses had been confirmed. C. Texas Panhandle: Like S.E. Colorado, the wintering and migrational populations in the Panhandle do not, as yet, warrant a productivity effort. Populations will be monitored, however, and data recorded yearly in this report (Tables 2 and 3). The peak population recorded this season was 2,000 birds, noted on 26 January 1982, three weeks after the midwinter survey. Based on our observations of staging snow geese in Mexico a week earlier, we speculate that the 2,000 was simply a restless vanguard of early spring migration. III. Discussion: It is generally conceded that the white geese (snow and Ross') wintering in New Mexico, Mexico (highlands), S.E. Colorado, and Texas (panhandle) receive relatively little hunting pressure prior to or after their arrival. Production since 1976 has been good (Table 7) except for 1978, and although peak populations on both New Mexico refuges (Table 1) have generally been on the increase, the overall popu lation in the complex • has not grown to the degree that one would expect. It would appear that the migration is more complex than we have previously thought: 1. Ross• geese comprise an unknown percentage of the population. Several neck-collared birds have been observed at Bosque del Apache Refuge that were sighted in previous years in the Sacramento Valley of California. Since 1979 Ross• geese have comprised between 13% and 26% of the Bosque Refuge white goose harvest (Table 6). 2. November 1981 marks the first time that a snow goose collared at Bosque Refuge was sighted at Bitter Lake NWR, although frequent sightings of Bitter Lake-collared birds have been recorded annually at Bosque. 3. The composition of blue phase birds has generally been in the one to two percent range for both refuges (Table 8). 4. We know little about the origin or mixing of flocks found in Mexico. 5. Recoveries and reports of banded or collared birds from • winter bandings in the complex have been received from as far west as Wra ngle Island and as far east as Hudson Bay. Reports on the wintering grounds have been from Houston, Texas on the east, to California on the west. 23

6. At Bosque del Apache Refuge, fowl cholera was responsible for the death of 15 snow geese in 1980 and 150 in 1981. However, to date no cholera losses have been noted at Bitter Lake Refuge . Until managers have an understanding of the interrelationships of these wintering geese, total management will not be possible. IV. Reconmendations: 1. Approval and implementation of the Central Flyway Snow Goose Management Plan. 2. Coordination of Central Flyway Management Plan with Pacific Flyway Ross• Goose Management Plan. 24

Attachment 1. List of Cooperators •

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region II - Albuquerque, NM Mr. Larry Smith, Migratory Bird Coordinator Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Mr. Ron Perry, Manager Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge Mr. LeMoyne Marlatt, Manager Mr. Jerry French, Asst. Manager Office of Migratory Bird Management Section of Waterfowl Harvest Surveys Sam Carney, Chief Mr. James F. Voelzer, Flyway Biologist Colorado Division of Wildlife Mr. Howard Funk New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Mr. James Sands Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Mr. Charles D. Stutzenbaker

•

• 25

. Table 1 . New Mexico wintering snow and Ross• geese ' peak fall populations.

Bosgue del A~ache NWR Bitter Lake NWR Year Population Population

1960-61 757 34 1961-62 1,043 66 1962-63 1,228 26 1963-64 1,425 52 1964-65 1,800 126 1965-66 1,850 175 1966-67 2,600 270 1967-68 3,500 425 1968-69 3,800 1,200 1969-70 4,000 3,700 • 1970-71 7,900 3, l 00 1971-72 8,600 3,000 1972-73 8,020 4,500 1973-74 16,000 12,500 1974-75 13,000 20,000 1975-76 18,500 29,500 1976-77 21,250 36,000 1977-78 21,550 66,500 1978-79 26,875 27,175 1979-80 28,500 40,000 • 1980-81 30,040 75,000 • 1981-82 28,000 30,000 26

. Table 2 . Snow goose survey data, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico highlands, and S. E. Colorado . N.M. N.M. S, £.C . Mexico Rio Grande Pecos a Texas Colo- Year Month Highlands Vall ey Valley Panhandl rP rado Total

1960 Jan. 5,826 1961 Jan. 12,349 1962 Jan. 7,841 1963 Jan. 44,400 1964 Jan. 23,085 1965 Jan. 38,157 1970 Jan. 34,800 1975 Jan. 26,465 1976 Jan. 44, 125

1976 Dec. 79,078 18,000 7,000 303 104,381 1977 Jan. 51,395 18,345 22,767 400 92,907

1977 Dec. No survey (34,000) 637 165 1978 Jan. 56,795 19,150 14,471 479 238 90,895

1978 Dec. 84,695 17,585 10,569 1,381 0 114,230 1979 Jan. 60,770 14 ,401 5,071 428 40 80,670

1979 Dec. 54,475 24,005 4,117 1,999 350 84,596 1980 Jan. 65,699 11 , 191 3,440 2,007 892 82,337

1980 Dec. No survey 20,624 15,584 987 364 1981 Jan. 44,855 21,439 26,403 1,143 375 94,21 5

1981 Dec. 60,665 25,820 23, 184 900 128 110,697 1982 Jan. l 07, 630 21,793 3,479 No survey 494 133,396 alncl udes N.E. Plains • bsee Table 3 for historical data cSee Tabl e 4 for historical data . 27

• Table 3. Snow geese observed in the Texas Panhandle during the January and December waterfowl surveys.

Year January December

1955-1970 Less than 300 per year No survey 1971 Unknown No survey 1972 1,727 No survey 1973 52 132 1974 629 332 1975 332 214 1976 500 303 1977 400 637 1978 47ga 1 ,381 1979 428 1,999 1980 2,007 987 1981 1, 143 900 1982 No survey

a First observations of neck-collared birds from Bitter Lake NWR 1-12-78. NOTE: All counts prior to 1972-73 were ground counts. Since then, all counts have been aerial surveys .

•

• 28

Table 4 . Snow geese observed in S.E. Colorado . Pea k # plus January and December waterfowl surveys.

Year Peak# January December

1976 25 1977 750 165 1978 3,610 238 0 1979 4,656 40 350 1980 892 100 364 1981 375 128 1982 751 494 29

Table 5 . lesser snow goose and Ross' goose harvest, New Mexico, l 970-80a. .. Snow Blue Ross' Total % Ross' Year Geese Geese Geese Ki 11 Geese

1970 782 78 860 1971 1498 1498

1972 96 96 1973 1207 1207 1974 94 94

1975 1922 208 2130 1976 3618 50 151 3719 4.0 1977 7829 152 70 8051 1.0 1978 2153 2153

1979 1445 C 352 1797 20.0 1980b 2564c 111 2675 4.0 • 1981 data not available

aData from annual tail fan surveys; Section of Waterfowl Harvest Surveys, Fish &Wildlife Service, Laurel, Maryland . bPreliminary data . clncludes blue phase. 30

Table 6. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, All-Goose Harvest.

As a % of: Goose Harvest bt SQecies Total Kil lLSnow & Ross' Kill CANADA WHITE- ROSS I BLUE SNOW TOTAL % ROSS' % BLUE % SNOW YEAR GOOSE FRONTED GOOSE GOOSE GOOSE KILL GOOSE GOOSE GOOSE

1966 365 1 38 404 9.4/100.0 1967 354 8 63 425 1.9/11.3 14.8/88 .7

1968 214 3 5 1 69 292 1.7/6.7 0.3/1.3 23.6/92.0 1969 1 3 4 73 81 3.7/3.8 4.9/5.0 90.1/91.2 1970 2 2 11 257 272 4.0/4.1 94.5/95.9 1971a 1 1 1 150 153 0.7/0.7 0.7/0.7 98 .0/98.6 1972 3 47 50 6.0 94.0 1973 49 4 385 438 11. 1 0.9 87.9

1974 23 2 303 328 7.0 0.6 92.4 1975 2 3 209 214 0.9 1.8 97.6 1976 18 5 691 714 2.5 0.7 96.8 1977 10 8 346 364 2.8 2.2 95.0 1978 14 2 424 440 3.2 0.. 5 96.3 1979 111 17 578 706 15. 7 2.4 81.9 1980 208 7 587 804b 26.0 1.0 73.0 1981 130 9 820 959 13.6 0. 9 85 .5 aLast year that Canada geese and white-fronted geese were legal. blncludes two white geese that were not identified as hunters checked out. 31

Table 7. Historical data - snow goose productivity surveys. New Mexico.

Bosgue del A~ache NWR Bitter Lake NWR Average# Average# Percent Young per Percent Percent Young per Percent Year llllllature Family Blue Phase IT1JTiature Family Blue Phase

1977 28 .3 2.32 2. 1 43 .5 1.83 0.7 1978 7. 0 1. 71 1.3 4.8 1. 17 0.6 1979 23. 1 2.33 1. 1 49.5 1.69 No data 1980 28.0 2. 11 2.0 49.0 2.07 2.0

1981 19.0 2.00 2.0 37.0 1. 79 2.0

NOTE: % Irrmature for 1978 through 1981 at Bosque del Apache plus 1980 and 1981 at Bitter Lake are weighted figures. All other % Immature are raw data. 32

Table 8. Snow goose population and age ratio data, New Mexico, 1960-1981.

Total Geese (Peak Po~ulations} % Dark Phase % Immatures Year Eastern a Western b Eastern Western Eastern Western 1960-61 34 757 0.0 2.6 1961-62 66 l ,043 1.5 3 .1 1962-63 26 1,228 0.0 2.4 17 1963-64 52 l ,425 57.7 1 .8 12 1964-65 126 1,800 23.8 1965-66 175 l ,850 2.3 1966-67 270 2,600 1.5 1.3 50 1967-68 425 3,500 2. 1 1.0 1968-69 1,200 3,800 0.8 0.9 1969-70 3,700 4,000 0.3 0.8 1970-71 3,100 7,900 0. 1 1.3 47 1971-72 3,000 8,600 0.6 2.2 40 1972-73 4,500 8,020 0.6 1.2 13 1973-74 12,500 16,000 2.5 52 1974-75 20,000 13,000 0.1 1.1 30 9 1975-76 29,500 18,500 0.2 0.9 70 47 1976-77 41,000 21,250 2.5 42 1977-78c 66,500 21,550 0.7 2. 1 43 28 1978-79 27,175 26,875 0.6 1.3 5 7 1979-80 40,000 28,500 No data 1.1 49 23 1980-81 75,000 30,040 2.0 2.0 49 28 1981-82 30,000 28,000 2.0 2.0 37 19 aEastern Plains and Pecos Valley (Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge). bRio Grande Valley (Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge). cFirst year of comprehensive productivity surveys. Table 9. 1981 productivity survey field data at Bosque del Apache NWR.

Snow Geese Snow Geese Snow Geese % 1nm. Flock Size Refuge (White) (Blue) White & Blue Phase Being Worked on Population Survey Combined Refuge (Tota 1) Date ( Raw Data) Ads. Inm. Total Ads . 1nm. Total

12-4-81 46 20 66 30.3 300 28,000 II 131 22 153 2 2 14.2 500 II II 28 1 29 1 1 3.3 l 00 II II 70 6 76 5 5 7.4 100 II II 147 28 175 3 3 15. 7 200 II II 177 24 201 3 3 11.8 204 II II 125 25 150 8 l 9 16.3 300 II II 346 99 445 26 l 27 21.2 472 II II 58 9 67 13 .4 67 II II 74 36 110 1 l 32 .4 400 II II 223 68 291 3 1 4 23.3 l ,000 II 12-5-81 156 43 199 3 3 16 .3 1, 200 II II 183 65 248 5 5 21. 7 500 II II 299 59 358 1 l 16.4 3,000 II II 249 69 318 2 2 4 22 .0 3,000 II II 1750 371 2121 29 3 32 17 .4 4,000 II

TOTAL 4062 945 5007 92 8 l 00 18.7

w w #

Table 10. Age ratio and family group data - snow geese, New Mexico - 1981.

In Families Other Localities Total Total Total % Imm. % Prod. Ave. No . and Ads. Irrm. Birds of •, Of Ad. Young Dates # Fam. Ads. Irrm. Ads. Irrm. Total Plum. per Birdsa Birdsb Family

Bosgue del Aeache 12- 4-81 10 19 15 27 5 46 20 66 41 II 8 12 18 121 4 133 22 155 9 II 21 9 21 9 30 ti 3 6 3 69 3 75 6 81 8 II 8 15 13 135 15 150 28 178 10 II 180 24 180 24 204 II 2 4 3 129 23 133 26 159 3 II 372 100 372 100 472 II 58 9 58 9 67 II 4 6 5 69 31 75 36 111 8 II 21 41 42 185 27 226 69 295 18 II 10 17 19 142 24 159 43 202 11 II 13 26 32 162 33 188 65 253 14 II 17 31 35 269 24 300 59 359 10 II 18 32 36 219 35 251 71 322 13 II 117 215 242 1564 132 1779 374 2153 12

TOTAL 231 424 463 3722 498 4146 961 5107 19 12 2.00

aThese results, when weighted for flock size, indicate .1940 (19%) immature, compared to the raw data of .1 870 (19%) immature. bonly for flocks sampled for family group data. • •

Table 11 . 1981 productivity survey field data at Bitter Lake NWR.

Snow Geese Snow Geese Snow Geese % IITITI. Flock Size Refuge (White) (Blue) White &Blue Phase Being Worked on Population Survey Combined Refuge (Tota 1) Date (Raw Data) Ads . I ITITI . Total Ads . Imm. Total 11-16-81 231 162 393 5 5 40.7 6800 6800 11-17-81 235 188 423 15 2 18 43. l 3000 24000 11-1 8-81 248 157 405 5 1 6 38 .4 1500 30000 12-1 3-81 260 142 402 4 4 35.0 20000 20000

TOTAL 974 649 1623 30 3 33 39.4 I I w u, t• •

Table 12. Age ratio and family group data - snow geese, New Mexico - 1981.

In Families Other Total Total Total % llllTl. % Prod. Ave. No. Localities Ads. Irrm. Birds of of Ad. Young and Total Plum. per Dates II Fam. Ads. 1nm. Ads. I IIITl • Birds Birds Family

Bitter-Lake NWR

11-16-81 85 154 157 82 5 236 162 398 11-17-81 100 169 179 82 11 251 190 441 11-18-81 80 144 145 109 13 253 158 411 12-13-81 79 134 135 130 7 264 142 406

TOTAL 344 601 616 403 36 1004 652 1656 37% 59.9 1. 79

a These results, when weighted for flock size, indicate .3690 {37%} inmature, compared to the raw data of .3937 (39%) inmature.

w O'I 37 TITLE: Waterfowl Productivity Surveys for the Pacific Flyway - 1981

SPECIES SURVEYED: Lesser Snow Geese, Anser c. caerulescens Ross' Geese, Anser rossii- White-fronted Geese, Anser albifrons frontalis Tule Geese, Anser albifrons gambelli Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator Whistling Swan, Cygnus columbianus

COOPERATORS: Canadian Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds Branch U.S. F1sh and Wildl lfr Service An·t Le Nati.onul Ga me Range Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, OR Office of Migratory Bird Management, Portland, OR Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, MT Region 7, Refuges and Wildlife Resources, Anchorage, AK Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, CA Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, CA Wildlife Research Field Station, Dixon, CA Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, AK Alaska Department of Fish and Game California Department of Fish and Game Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Washington Department of Game University of California, Davis

REPORTED BY: Carey S. Smith

ABSTRACT: Results of the 1981 Productivity Surveys in the Pacific Flyway as compared to 1980 data are as follows:

Average Number Percent Young Young/Family Species 1980 1981 1980 1981

Lesser snow geese (Wrangle Island) Alaska 38.0 Washington 11.0-23.0 34.4-49.5

Lesser snow geese (Western Arctic) Alaska 7. 4 Montana 24.4 California 23.0-29.1 20.9-31.7 1.98

White-fronted geese California 26.2 26.3 2.18 1.85

Tule geese Alaska 13.8 34.0 California 33.8 37.0

Trumpeter swan Montana 1.8 18.8 Wyoming 7.5 24.2 Idaho 12.0 22 . 5

Whistling swans Alaska 26.4 2.09 Utah 28.4 25.2 2.32 2.11 38

NARRATIVE

I . Methods: The procedures followed in conducting the survey are contained in the (Draft) Standard Operating Procedures For Waterfowl Productivity Surveys of Geese, Swans, a nd Brant, 1977.

II . Results: All data, as presented, are unweighted raw field results, unless otherwise indicated.

A. Lesser Snow Geese (Wrangle Island) - Dr. Syroechkovski (USSR) sent word that there were about 40,000 nesting pairs on Wrangle Island this spr ing and predicted the best production in the last 10 years and survey results support his prediction . Michael Smith (USFWS) photographed wrangle birds as they migrated through the Yukon Delta. From a sample of nearly 7,000 geese 38% were classified as juveniles. On Skagit Bay, Washington, Larry Brewer (Washington DFG) conducted two surveys in November and found the percentage of juvenile birds to be 49.5 on the 4th and 45% on the 20th for this possibly still migrant and heavily hunted population. A 4 December photographic survey of Skagit Bay, Port Susan Bay, and the Fraser River Delta indicated 34 .7% juvenile birds. In Tule Lake, California, Bud Rienecker (California DFG) estimated 46 . 6% juvenile birds in flocks determined to be from Wrangle Island migrating through that area in October.

B. Lesser Snow Geese (Western Arctic) - The nesting effort was early on Banks Island and the Anderson Delta, so an improved production was anticipated (USFWS-CWS). Tom Barry (CWS) described an arctic storm a t the end of August, which may have altered the normal migratory route of the breeding portion of this population. As usual, the major flocks of the non-breeders had moulted and begun the normal westward migration through the Arctic NWR, but the storm forced the major breeding population in a southeasterly direction. The migration area survey results indicate that these cohorts did not integrate until arriving on the California wintering areas. In mid-September Mike Spindler (USFWS) photographed snow geese migrating through the Arctic NWR and found only 7. 4% to be young of the year, which lends support to Tom's reports. On 19 November at Freeze-out Lake in Montana Don Childress (Montana FWP) surveyed five flocks and reported percentages of juveniles ranging from 2% to 41% (Table 1). The total for the five flocks was 24.4% juveniles. On 8 and 14 November, respectively , Bud Rienecker recorded 32! and 9.4% with a sample of about a thousand birds each day, giving a total of about 21% juvenile birds. John Beam (California DFG) recorded 24 . 6% juveniles in a 1,383 bird sampled from 19 November to 1 December on the Los Banos wildlife area wintering grounds (Table 2) . Larry Dean r eported a 29.9% juvenile classification from the Salt on Sea NWR. Further north on the Sacramento NWR, Joel Miller (USFWS) reported 31 . 6% of the wintering snow geese to be juvenile birds (Table 3). With the possibility of 25% of the Sacramento Valley snow geese originating from Wrangle Island at over 40% juvenile, Joel's figure of 31 . 1% is about what might be expected for that area. 39

C. Ross' Geese - Nesting cond itions for the Queen Maud Gulf were considered favorable this spring and an increased fall flight was forecast. No production data was made available f rom Canada and integration with snow geese on migration and terminal areas made data collection impossible in the states.

D. White-fronted Geese - With nesting conditions similar to 1980, white- fronts were forecast to have a similar production to last year, and according to Craig Ely's (U.C.,Davis) work in the Tule Lake, California , migration area this was the case. Craig sampled nearly 40,000 birds from early September through October and found 26.3% to be juveniles as compared to 26.2% in 1980. Duane Norman (USFWS) conducted a family size survey at Tule Lake in October and recorded 1 .85 juveniles per family, which is also down slightly from the 1980 figure of 2.18 (Table 4).

E. Tule Geese - Dan Timm (Alaska FGD) recorded 437 juvenile birds Crom a sample of 1,284 on the Redoubt Bay breeding grounds for a total of 34% young. This figure compared favorably with the 37% young of the year recorded in the Sacramento Valley by Dr. Michael Wege. Mike sampled 2,300 tules from October through December . The combination of hunting restrictions, at least 2 years of good production, and improved census technique (collaring) has resulted in a sharp increase to the present population estimate of 3,500 to 5,000 birds.

F. Trumpeter Swans - Although the trumpeter swan is not a game species, its addition to this report is appropriate, as its productivity is indicative of the environmental factors affecting Canada goose populations in the areas.

Nesting trumpeters in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming were not as adversely affected by cold weather and floods as in 1980, when only 4.5% of the sampled swans were juveniles. This winter 21.8% of the trumpeters surveyed were young of the year (Table 5). At Malheur NWR Steve Thompson (USFWS) reported nine cygnets produced, which is close to the long term average. Apparently a sununer drought caused displacement of these cygnets, stressing them to the point where only two were accounted for by fall.

G. Whistling Swans - Rod King (USFWS) flew a productivity survey on Alaska's west coast from the Yukon Delta to King Salmon. Of 1,946 swans classified 26. 4% were juveniles. Tim Provan's (Utah DWR) annual survey indicates another good production year for swans migrating through Utah. A 3-month sample of nearly 15,000 swans indicated 25 . 2% juveniles (Table 6) . This figure is well above the long term, but slightly below the 1980 figure of 28.4%. The population peaked in November at nearly 40,000 swans, but extensive freezeup reduced Utah's swans to 3,400 birds by the Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey. 40

III. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. The disparity between percent juvenile snow geese among local flocks emphasizes the necessity to survey an area over an extended period of time. No matter how large the sample size, a 2 or 3 day survey on migration a reas is only classifying that segment of the population that is moving through the area during that period and may have little resemblance to the overall production of the entire pop­ ulation.

2. There is still no Ross' goose production data available from Canada . If there are Ross' goose production surveys being conducted there, I would like to see the results become available. If these surveys have been terminated, I recommend their revival, because the Canadian migration areas are the only sites where Ross' geese can be classified before integration with lesser snow geese .

• 41

Attachment l. List of Cooperators

Canadian Wildlife Service Mr. Tom Barry, Research Scientist

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arctic National Wildlife Range Mr. Mike Spindler, Refuge Manager

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Mr. Steven Thompson, Wildlife Biologist

Office of Migratory Bird Management, Portland, OR Mr. K. Duane Norman, Section Chief-Waterfowl Population Surveys Mr. Carey S. Smith, Flyway Biologist

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Mr. Richard Sjostrom, Biological Technician

Region 7, Refuges and Wildlife Resources, Anchorage, AK Mr . Rod King

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Mr. Joel Miller, Asst. Refuge Manager

Wildlife Research Field Station, Dixon, CA Dr. Michael Wege, Biological Technician

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Mr. Daniel Timm

California Department of Fish and Game Mr. John Beam, Wildlife Biologist Mr. Warren Rienecker, Trapping and Branding Specialist

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Mr. Donald Childress, Waterfowl Biologist

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mr. Timothy Provan, Waterfowl Biologist

Washington Department of Game Larry Brewer, Game Biologist

University of California, Davis Mr. Craig Ely, Graduate Student

• • Table 1. Snow goos e age ratio data , Freeze-Out Lake, MT, 1981

In Families Others Localities Total Total Total i I rm, . % Prod. Ave . No. and Ads. Imm. Oi rds of of Ad. Young D.1 tcs U Fam . Ads . Imm. Ad s. Irran . To ta 1 Plum. per Birds 13 irds Familt_

11/19/ 81

Flock 1 287 185 472 39 . 2 Flock 2 434 298 732 40 . 7 Flock 3 1026 305 1331 22.9 Flock 4 455 8 463 1. 7 Flock 5 333 24 357 6. 7

TOTAL 2535 820 3355 21.,. 4

Ta bl e 2 Sn ow 2oose a~e r a t i o d ata , sac r amento NWR , Ca lif or n i a, 1981 In Famil ies Others Localities Total Total Total ~·1: 1~ r -.. :· Prod. Ave . No . and Ads . Imm . Dates Bi rds of of Ad. Yo1.;ng # Fam . Ads. Imm . Ads. Imm . To t~ 1 Plum . per Birds 13i rds FamilL

12/4/81 399 102 501 20.3 12 / 5/81 303 222 525 42 . 3 I 12/12/81 1291 638 1929 33 . 0 12,/16/81 370 143 513 27.9 1/3/82 232 97 329 29.S I I

I A N

TOT AL 2595 1202 3797 31. 6 • Table 3 . Snow goose age ratio data , Los Banos WA , California . 1981 In Fami 1ies Others Localities Total Total Total % llTlll. % Prod. Ave. No. and Ads. Irrun. Oirds of of Ad. Young Dates II Fam. Ads. 1nm. Ads. Imm. Total Plum. per Birds Birds Famill._

I I 11/18/81 880 166 1046 18.8 ' I 11/30/81 285 122 407 29.9 I 12/1/81 218 52 270 19. 3

. I TOTAL 24 . 6 1383 340 . 1723 I

Table 4. White-fronted geese age ratio and family group data, Tule Lake, CA, 1981

I I ! In Families Others I I I ~, Loe al iti es Total Total Total ,~ Jri.11. • '.~ Prod. ! Ave . r!o. and Ads. Imm. Birds of of Ad. I Young

Dates # Fam. Ads. Irrm. Ads . Imm. Total Plum . I' per I Birds Birds I Fail'ill_ I I ·1 10/26/81 328 552 569 666 186 1218 755 1973 45 . 3 43 . 3 t 1. 73 10/27/81 367 600 676 787 135 1387 811 2198 36 . 9 43.2 1.84 10/28/81 131 214 287 321 173 535 460 995 46.2 40 .0 I 2. 19 10/29/81 186 276 343 404 376 680 719 1399 51.4 40 .6 I 1. 84 j

.t,. w

OiAi. 1012 i642 1875 2178 870 3820 2745 6565 41.8 43 .o I 1.85 Table 5. Trumoeter Swan a 2e r a tio da t a . 1 981 In Families Others Localities Total Total Total % Imm . % Prod. Ave. No. and Ads. Inun. Oirds of of Ad. You ng D11tes H Fam. Ads. I ITVTI. l\ds. Imm. Tota 1 Plum. pe r Birds Birds Famill__

Montana 390 90 390 90 480 18 . 8 Idaho 429 137 429 137 566 24. 2 Wyom.in g 133 39 133 39 172 22.5

TOTAL 566 266 566 266 1218 21.8

Table 6 . Whistling Swan age r a t i o data, Utah, 1981

In Families Others I ,, Localities Tota l Total Tota l % Irilll . " Prod. ,t.ve. No. and Ad s. Imm . Birds of of Ad. Yol.i ng Dates # Fam. Ad s. Imm . Ads. Imm . Total Plum. p!? r Bi rds 13irds j Fami lt_ ·1 I I 11/4/81 '4468 1622 44 68 1622 6090 26.6 11/17 / 81 4494 1051 4494 1051 5545 19 . 0 I 12/2/81 1700 800 1700 800 2500 32 . 0 974 444 974 444 1418 31. 3

~ ~ .

TOTAL I 11 , 636 3, 917 11,636 3, 91 7 15 , 553 25 . 2 I I Tabl e 7. Wh ist ling swan family group coun ts, Ut ah, 1981

In Fami lies Others Local ities Total Total Total % Inm . % Prod. Ave. No . and Ads. Inm. Birds of of Ad. You ng Dates # Fam . Ads . I nm . Ads. Imm . Total Plum. per Bi rds Bi rd s Fami 1Y

11/4/81 404 931 2. 30 11/17/81 389 772 1.98 12/2/81 243 522 2. 15 12/16/81 210 410 1.95

TOTAL 1246 2635 2 . 11 46

TITLE: Waterfowl Productivity Surveys for Alaska - 1981 SPECIES SURVEYED: Black Brant, Branta bernicla nigricans Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator Emperor Goose, Anser conagicus Cackling Canada Goose, Branta candensis m1n1ma Dusky Canada Goose, Branta canadensis occidentalis COOPERATORS : U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Investigations - Juneau Migratory Birds - Portland Migratory Birds - Fairbanks Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge - Bethel Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Cold Bay Kenai National Wildlife Refuge - Kenai U.S. Forest Service Cordova Ranger District - Cordova Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Resource Area - Glennallen U.S. Army Office of Natural Resources - Fort Richardson Alaska Department of Fish and Game Game Division (Waterfowl) - Anchorage Washington Department of Game Canadian Wildlife Service - Delta, British Columbia REPORT COMPILED BY: Bruce Conant , Wildlife Biologist/Pilot, Juneau, AK

• ABSTRACTS: Black brant - a below average year Average clutch size 3. 57 North Slope Average clutch size 3.57 }- Nesting success 71.7% Yukon- Kuskokwim Average brood size (Class I) 3.01 Delta Fall counts 18.6% young J- 2.80 avg. family Izembek 13 . 5% young Skagit Winter population 113 ,402 Mexico Trumpeter swan Alaska breeding population - a good year Average brood size 3.9 Young in population 30% Pairs with brood 42% Western Canada breeding population Young in population 25% approx. Emperor goose - apparently a good year Spring survey 91,267 Unimak Island to Y-K Delta Average clutch size 4.87 Yukon- Kuskokwim Delta Fall counts 27.4% young }Izembek & 3.22 avg . family AK Pen. 47

Cackling Canada goose - probably a poor year Average clutch size 4.87}-Yukon-Kuskokwim .. Nesting success 60% Delta Dusky Canada goose - apparently a below average year Average clutch size 4.9 }Copper River Breeding population survey 17.9% young Delta

NARRATIVE: I. Methods: Because Alaska is a major production area for geese, swans, and brant, and is remote, many of the procedures used in conduct­ ing productivity surveys in Alaska have been developed here or adapted from standard procedures used in the "lower 48 11 states (Lynch 1969). A techniques manual for Alaska is in the planning stage. II. Results: Black Brant The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is a major breeding ground for black brant with smaller populations breeding on the Western Canadian Arctic, the North Slope of Alaska, on Wrangell Island, and east to the delta of the Lena River in . Black brant winter mainly on the west coast of Mexico and in Baja California with lesser numbers wintering in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska, and Japan (Bellrose 1976). Vern Byrd and Mike Smith reported an average clutch size of 3.57 • (1980 - 4.09) with 71.7 percent nesting success and an average Class I brood size of 3.01 (both similar to 1980) for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta

,: breeding grounds (Table 1). Their data from traditionally censused index plots indicate a decrease in black brant nesting density, but it is not known whether this apparent decline represents a real change in population size or shifts in nesting distribution. Random strip tran­ sects established through major colonies provided a preliminary estimate of approximately 68,000 nesting black brant on the Yukon Delta Refuge. Tom Rothe reported Jim Helmericks found 58 nests with an average cl utch size of 3.57 on the Colville River Delta on the North Slope of Alaska in 1981.

John Sarvis reported 18.6%young (10 year average - 25.8 :I:: 10.9%) out of a sample of 5,045 and an average family size of 2.80 (10 year average - 2.67) for 154 broods. Larry Brewer found 13.5% young of the year (1980 - 28%) in a sample of about 3,000 brant on the Skagit marshes (Table 2) . Bruce Conant and Carey Smith found 113,402 brant in Mexico in 1982 compared to 181,760 in 1981 and the previous 10 year average of 129,889. 48

It appears that black brant did not do as well as we thought last year and that production was below average this year. No significant problems were reported for 1981. Trumpeter swan Alaska breeding population Trumpeter swans nest in the interior and gulf coast regions of Alaska and winter primarily in coastal southeast Alaska, British Columbia, and south to the Columbia River (Bellrose 1976). Trumpeter swan population data was collected by the U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Army on Alaska breeding grounds in 1981 using the USFWS system (King et al 1981) and is presented in Tables 3, 4, and 5. Five out of ten units were surveyed to varying degrees with good coverage on 44 quadrangle maps (14%) and 5,463 square miles (19%) of Alaska trumpeter swan nesting habitat. A total of 2,438 swans were recorded with 741 (30%) young of the year with an average brood size of 3.9 cygnets. It appears that Alaskan trumpeters experienced good produc­ tion in 1981, but there are signs that the population has leveled off in some areas. Poor flying weather prevented a winter trumpeter swan survey in south­ east Alaska this year. Western Canada breeding population • Rick McKelvey reported finding about 100 trumpeters in the southeast corner of the Yukon Territory, Canada, in 1981 with about 25% being young of the year. He also located ten pairs in the Fort St. John­ Dawson Creek area of British Columbia, Canada which produced 22 young in 1981. No significant problems were reported for 1981. Emperor goose The emperor is primarily an Alaskan goose with probably 90% of the breeding population nesting on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The bulk of the population winters from Port Moller west along the entire Aleutian chain of islands (Bellrose 1976). An aerial survey was conducted along the coastline from the south side of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to the northeast coast of Unimak Island during the last week of April 1981 with the primary goal of enumerating the spring population of emperor geese. A total of 91,267 emperors were recorded (Dau 1981). It appears that emperor geese had a good year in 1981. Vern Byrd and Mike Smith reported an average clutch size of 4.87 (Table 5) which was only slightly below the 10 year average. No brood size data was re­ ported. Fall counts (Table 6) reported by Michael Nunn for Izembek • Lagoon and Rod King for the Seward Peninsula and the coastline from Bethel to Unimak Island found 27.4% young with an average family size of 3.22 (Table 7). No significant problems were reported for 1981. Cackling Canada goose Cackling Canada geese breed exclusively on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and winter in the Pacific Flyway (Bellrose 1976). Reliable population esti­ mates are difficult to obtain, but the fall population of cacklers in Alaska has been estimated to be 150,000 (King and Lensink 1971). Productivity data for cacklers was reported by Vernon Byrd and Mike Smith for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The average clutch (Table 8) was 4.85 in 1981 compared to 5.19 (1980) and 4.92 (last 10 year average). Overall nesting success in 1981 for the Yukon Delta Refuge was an esti­ mated 60 percent which is lower than normal. No brood size data was reported . Tidal flooding during nest site selection or early egg laying probably caused reduced nesting densities and lower than average success in some areas. Cackling Canada geese had a relatively poor nesting season in 1981 (Byrd et al 1981). No significant problems were reported for 1981. Dusky Canada goose The dusky Canada goose breeds on the Copper River Delta and winters in the Willamette Valley in Oregon (Bellrose 1976). The data collected on the breeding grounds in 1981 reported by Dan Ti11111 shows below average production for the third year in a row (Table 9) . Average clutch size was 4.9 (about average), but only 17.9% young were recorded (previous 10 year average -26%) and the density of nests in the study area continued to decline, apparently due to heavy brush growth . Other parts of the Copper River Delta are believed to now support much of the nesting effort. No significant problems were reported for 1981. 50

REFERENCES Bellrose, F. C. 1976. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America . Stackpole Books. Byrd, Vernon, et al. 1981. The Distribution, Density, and Productivity of Cackling Canada, White-fronted and Emperor Geese on the Yukon Delta NWR in 1981. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Refuge Report. 13p. Byrd, Vernon, et al. 1981. Distribution, Density, and Production of Black Brant on the Yukon Delta NWR, 1981. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Refuge Report. 20p . Dau, Christian P. 1981. Spring Survey of Emperor Geese - Southwestern Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Trip Report . 16p. King, J. G., and C. J. Lensink. 1971. An evaluation of Alaskan habitat for migratory birds. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Processed Rep. 46p . King, J. G., et al. 1982 . Alaska Trumpeter Swan Status Report - 1981 . U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Processed Report. Lynch, J. J. 1969. Appraisals of annual productivity and mortality among geese, swans, and other birds. Annual report, Part II and Appendix A. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 26p .

r 51

Attachment l. List of Cooperators U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Investigations - Juneau Jim King - Waterfowl Supervisor Bruce Conant - Wildlife Biologist/Pilot Migratory Birds - Portland Duane Norman - Chief, Section of Waterfowl Population Surveys Carey Smith - Pacific Flyway Biologist Migratory Birds - Fairbanks Rod King - Wildlife Biologist/Pilot Wildlife Operations - Anchorage Dirk Derksen - Migratory Bird Specialist Endangered Species - Fairbanks Skip Ambrose - Wildlife Biologist Special Studies - Anchorage Tom Rothe - Supervisor NFRC, Marine Bird Section - Anchorage Bob Gill - Project Leader Colleen Handel - Wildlife Biologist Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge - Bethel Vernon Byrd - Wildlife Biologist Mike Smith - Assistant Refuge Manager Lee Hotchkiss - Assistant Refuge Manager (Pilot) Mike Rearden - Assistant Refuge Manager (Pilot) T. Aldrich Jack Paniyak - Maintenanceman Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Cold Bay John Sarvis - Refuge Manager Chris Dau - Wildlife Biologist Michael Nunn - Assistant Refuge Manager Kenai National Wildlife Refuge - Kenai Ted Bailey - Wildlife Biologist Vern Berns - Assistant Refuge Manager (Pilot) M. Portner - YACC Aide U.S. Forest Service - Cordova Fred Arbogast - District Ranger Garvan Bucaria - Wetlands Biologist Dan Logan - Wildlife Biologist Dave Krueper - Wildlife Biologist 52

Bureau of Land Management - Glennallen Larry Byrne - Wildlife Biologist David Daum - Wildlife Biologist U.S . Army - Fort Richardson Bill Quirk - Chief Natural Resource Specialist William Gossweiler - Natural Resource Specialist Alaska Department of Fish and Game Game Division (Waterfowl) - Anchorage Dan Timm - Statewide Waterfowl Coordinator Bruce Campbell - Game Biologist Game Division - Cordova Julius Reynolds - Area Biologist Non-Game Division Sue Quinlan - Wildlife Biologist Washington Department of Game Larry Brewer Canadian Wildlife Service - Delta, British Columbia Rick McKelvey M. Dennington British Columbia Fisheries and Wildlife Branch • B. Churchill F. Harper Ducks Unlimited (Canada) E. Henan F. Simpson 53

Table 1. Black Brant - Clutch and Brood Sizes Percent Average Average Localities Nesting Clutch Brood Size Dates Success Size (No. Broods) (No. Nests) (No. Nests) Class I

Yukon - Kuskokwim Delta 71. 7 3.57 3. 01 1981 (293) (1349) ( 310)

Colville River Delta 3.57 1981 (58)

'

• Table 2. Black Brant - Fall Productivity Counts

% Imn . of % Prod. of Avg. # of Localities In Families 1/ Other Total Total Ad. Plum. Young Per Dates # Fam. Ads . Imm. Ads. Imm. Ads . Irrm. Birds Birds Birds Family Izembek Lagoon 4109 936 5045 18. 6 Fall 1981 154 431 2.80 Skagit 3000 13 . 5 12/29/81 lf The figures for families from Izembek Lagoon were taken separately from the figures for total adult/total immature and are not included in the totals. They should not be added to the total figures because all birds in a flock were not counted, only the family groups. 55

Table 3. Sample Alaska Trumpeter Swan Observations for 44 Maps .. (19% of habitat) ..,VI VI VI VI Q) VI -0 VI !,.. VI VI Q) C: z -0 ,-- !,.. !,...... C: C: 0 ,0 ,0 .... !,...... al ,0 .... Q) .., 0 al 3 3 ~ >- ,0 VI -0 V') V') VI VI Q) -0 Q) Q) '- > .::,,(. ,-- !,.. .s:::. !,.. -0 VI .::,,(. ,-- Q) .., en Q) !,.. !,.. u ,-- C: ,0 ,0 .., 0 u en ::, ::, .µ ::, C VI 0 .... 0 C .... 0 !,.. ,0 ,-- .... ,0 ,-- -0 0 0 er 0 .D V') ~ 0 al 0.. u.. V') 0.. u.. ct: >- I-

8-9/681/ 369 123 295 27 47 590 281 918 451 1369 5417 7-9/75 476 130 381 48 47 762 271 1080 452 1532 5463 8-9/80 636 222 519 59 58 1038 554 1650 839 2489 5463 7-9/81 541 189 431 78 32 862 803 1697 741 2438 5463

1/ 42 maps - 18% of habitat 56

Table 4. Sample Alaska Trumpeter Swan Surrmary Data for 44 Maps ( 19% of habitat) Average % Pai rs Sq. Mile Brood w/Brood % Young in Sq. Mile per Brood Sq. Mile Year Size or Nest Population per Pair or Nest oer Swan 8-9/681· 3. 7 40 33 18 44 4.0 7-9/75 3. 5 34 30 14 42 3.6

8-9/80 3.8 43 34 11 25 2.2 7-9/81 3.9 42 30 13 29 2.2

1/ 42 maps - 18% of habitat

Table 5. Alaska Trumpeter Swan Survey Samples for 1981.

Number of Maos Sq. M1. of Habitat Area Sample Total % Sample Total % Agencies Haines 2 2 100 1409 46 100 USFWS Gulf Coast 11 38 29 690 1942 36 USFWS,USFS Copper Canyon 0 0 0 0 Gulkana 1 58 2 204 5097 4 BLM Ke nai 13 21 62 1409 1560 90 USFWS :ook Inlet 0 0 0 0 Fairbanks 17 79 22 3114 8113 38 USFWS, US Army McGrath 0 0 0 0 Koyukuk 0 0 0 0 Fort Yukon 0 0 0 0 trotal 44 306 14 5463 29453 19 57

Table 6. Emperor Goose - Clutch and Brood Sizes Average Localities Nesting Clutch Average Brood Si ze .. Dates Success Size (# Broods) (# Nests) (# Nests) Class I I Class II !Class III/F Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta 80 4.87 no data 1981 (44) (61) r •

Table 7. Emperor Goose - Fall Productivity Counts % Inm. of % Prod. of Avg. # of Localities In Families 1/ Other Total Total Ad. Plum. Young Per Dates # Fam. Ads. Imm. Ads. Inm. Ads. Inm. Birds Birds Birds Family Izembek Lagoon Fa 11 1981 Aug. 13 0 13 0 Sept. 125 432 1151 609 1760 34.6 3.46 Oct. 30 71 277 85 362 23.5 2.37 Nov. 13 34 86 53 139 38. 1 2.62 Subtotal 168 537 1527 747 2274 32.8 3.20 Yukon De 1ta- Unimak Is 1and Oct. 3-7, 1981 54 171 1861 532 2393 22.2 3. 16 Seward Peninsula Aug. 8, 1981 10 39 3.90 Total 232 747 3388 1279 4667 27.4 3.22 l/ The figures for families from Izembek Lagoon were taken separately from the figures for total adult/total inmature and are not included in the totals. They should not be added to the total figures because all birds in a flock were not counted, only the family groups.

u, CX> 59

Table 8. Cackling Canada Goose - Clutch and Brood Sizes Average Localities % Nesting Clutch Average Brood Size Dates Success Size (# Broods) .. (# Nests) (# Nests) Class I I Class Il!Class 111/F

Yukon-Kuskokwim 60 4.85 Del ta 1981 (74) (125) no data Table 9. Dusky Canada Goose - Breeding Ground Survey Percent Number Localities Breeding Percent Non-Prod. Young Fall Harvests Date Mid-Winter Population ll Young Adults 2/ Produced Flight 3/ Copper River 22,200 4/ 17.9 92 4,800 27,000 1981 23,000 1/ I . 1/ Mid-winter less 0.0375 mortality (Chapman et al 1969) 2/ Percent of total adults in flocks with no young 3/ Fall flight less mid-winter inventory !/ Preliminary estimates pending further analyses

O'\ 0