nservationists that Canada Geese were in serious trouble. In July, the tlantic Flyway Council met. The decisions at and subsequent to that meeting led to the closure of Canada Geese hunting for an indefinite period in 12 U.S. states plus two Canadian Provinces, most of Ontario and Quebec except for the Madelaine Islands, Gaspe, the north shore of the St. Lawrence, and southeastern Ontario.

These findings will not impact the hunting of Canada Geese in the Atlantic Provinces at this time. Studies of the Canada Geese that migrate through Prince Edward Island (see below) indicate that this population of Canada Geese nests in Newfoundland and Labrador and winters with other Atlantic Flyway populations on the east coast from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. In addition, some young are produced by Canada Geese nesting locally in the Atlantic region. All of these birds are part of the Atlantic Flyway Canada Geese (see the map below).

In the eastern population, nest surveys suggest a stable population with an index level of 7480 in 1993 and 6000 in 1994 compared to 7756 in 1980 (standard error 1,000). Surveys on staging areas, tail surveys from hunter returns, and index of harvest per hunter effort support this finding. Calcu- lations of survival from neck collar surveys indicate 64% in 1990-91 and 67% in 1992-93. While 70% is preferred in

.Ehe latter, the numbers suggest to

overnment biologists that the population can withstand the current level of harvest.

Cumulative data indicate that approximately 50% of the harvest is in the Atlantic Region and 50% is in the United States. with hunting closed in a portion of the migration and wintering range, survival numbers should improve in the next year.

can“: Goon Nuvnl

MID NOVEMBER GOOSE SURVEYS "3..."... ‘ P.E.I. 1969-199‘I-

no NUMBER OF GEESE: THOUSANDS

25 20 3 at r » y ,5 . . 5 ., i , , , ,V Z 3:. i m . , ,; 'z 5 . ; r/ o ;% 3 69717273751877787982873890929394 - ‘ YEAR

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CANADA OESE