Population and Productivity of a Flock of Giant Canada Geese in Northeastern South Dakota

Population and productivity studies of giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) were conducted in northeastern South Dakota in 1976 and 1977. One hundred ninety-three of 436 randomly selected sample quarter sections on the 5,459 km2 area contained potential goose nesting habitat in 1976. Forty-six pairs, 6 indicated pairs, and 6 single geese were found on these 193 quarter sections during the 1977 nesting season. The population was estimated to be 1,880 geese. Recommendations were to continue aerial surveys in the spring and late summer and to supplement them with annual searches of the sample quarter sections used in this study. One hundred three nests were found on islands and artificial nesting structures. Mean clutch size was 5.44 with no significant difference (P \u3e0.05) between the size of clutches on islands and artificial nesting structures. Nest success was 95% with no significant difference (P \u3e0.05) between islands and artificial nesting structures. Success of eggs in artificial nesting structures (91%) was significantly (