Coastal waterfowl survey.
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The coastal wintering range was divided into nine census areas and a competent observer was assigned to each area. Airplanes were used in seven of the nine areas. The pre-season census (October 27 and 28) revealed 409,329 ducks, 127,053 coots, and 281,085 geese present, a grand total of 838,142 waterfowl. During the mid-season census (December 7, 8, and 9), 1,004,242 ducks, 67,432 coots, and 286,810 geese were observed for a total of 1,350,484 waterfowl. This included 334,183 pintails and 148,068 redheads. Observers agreed that by use of light planes in smaller census areas, 90 to 95 percent of all waterfowl present were seen. Sex-age ratio studies involving 2,077 waterfowl revealed 54.69 percent juveniles and 45.31 percent adults. Of these 60.04 percent were males, and 39.96 percent were females. Pintails were first in order of species killed; redheads second, mallards third, with gadwalls, green-winged teals, canvasbacks, and lesser scaups sharing approximately the same hunting pressure for fourth ranking.