By

• Main Authors: Edward J. Mallek, Christian P. Dau, U. S. Fish, Wildlife Service U. S. Fish, Wildlife Service
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Key words; aerial survey; emperor geese; waterbirds; southwest Alaska. October 2007; Brant; Canada; Pacific; Canada Goose; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.501.2983; http://www.fws.gov/alaska/mbsp/mbm/waterfowl/surveys/pdf/emf07rpt.pdf

Abstract: This report presents results of the 29th consecutive year of fall aerial emperor goose surveys in southwest Alaska. All bird and marine mammal species were counted with emphasis on emperor geese, Pacific brant, Canada geese, and Steller’s eiders. Population estimates for emperor geese and Steller’s eiders were 73,531 and 80,102, respectively. Two additional replicate surveys of the Izembek NWR area were flown on 2 and 3 October to estimate sizes of the Pacific brant and Canada goose populations. Averages counts for the Izembek area, based on three surveys, were 138,476 Pacific brant and 29,964 Canada geese. The survey was flown from 26 September to 3 October 2007 from the Naknek River to Bechevin Bay, along the north side of the Alaska Peninsula and along the south side west of Cold Bay. Weather precluded south side coverage east of Cold Bay. The USFWS Turbine-Beaver (N754) was used and a left seat pilot/observer and right seat observer made observations along coastlines and over estuaries from 45m (150 feet) ASL and at 200km/hr (110 kts).