Aerial survey of Emperor geese and other waterbirds

• Main Authors: Edward J. Mallek, Christian P. Dau, U. S. Fish, Wildlife Service
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Brant; Canada; Pacific; Canada Goose; Kuskokwim; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.383.5867; http://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/180175950/180175950-2003fa.pdf

Abstract: The fall aerial emperor goose survey was conducted in southwest Alaska for the 25 th consecutive year in 2003. Emphasis was on emperor geese, Pacific brant, Canada geese and Steller’s eiders with populations estimated at 77,290, 139,349, 25,678, and 67,539, respectively. The survey was flown from 27 September to 2 October 2003 from Kuskokwim Bay to Wide Bay, along the north and south sides of the Alaska Peninsula. An amphibious Cessna 206 (N234JB), with a left seat pilot/observer and right seat observer, was flown at 150 feet ASL and 110 knots along the coastline and over estuaries to determine species composition and numbers of birds. Additional replicate surveys of the Izembek NWR area were flown on 26 September, 8 and 9 October to estimate sizes of the Pacific brant and Canada goose (135,944 and 32,886, respectively) populations. Key words: aerial survey, emperor geese, southwest Alaska, waterbirds, waterfowl November 2003