Aerial surveys flown in northern Manitoba during 1972-77 were used to determine indices of spring breeding populations and distributions of Eastern Prairie Population (EPP) Canada geese (Branta canadensis). Precision within ?20% of the survey results (P = 0.05) was achieved by using stratified random sampling and optimum allocation procedures. Variability among observers was negligible. However, comparisons between counts made from fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters indicated that breedingpair estimates should be multiplied by about 1.4 to adjust for birds not seen. Distribution of nesting geese strongly favored the coastal areas bordering Hudson Bay. A section of tundra habitat comprising less than 8% of the 154,600/km2 survey area contained 44-67% of the total breeding pairs during the 1st 4 years. Average annual nest densities in lowland habitat near the Hudson Bay coast ranged from 0.17-0.32 pairs/km2, whereas more-interior areas seldom exceeded 0.12 pairs/km2. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 45(1):46-53 The Eastern Prairie Population of Canada geese in the Mississippi Flyway expanded from approximately 28,000 birds inventoried during winter 1947-48 (Hankla and Rudolph 1967) to >250,000 birds in 1977 (Humburg, unpubl. rep., Mo. Dep. Conserv. Fed. Aid Proj. W-13-R, 1979). Much of this increase is attributed to a sound management program developed through the cooperative efforts of state, provincial, and federal agencies. Changes in landuse practices and an ever-increasing demand for outdoor recreation have required improved methods for monitoring and regulating the goose population. In recent years, attention has focused on the need for expanded research on the EPP breeding grounds. Information on the primary breeding areas of EPP geese, their distribution, and productivity is of great importance in setting annual harvest regulations. Additionally, the ability to detect and respond to changes caused by man's impact on northern nesting areas may be crucial in safeguarding this population. This paper describes the distribution of EPP Canada geese nesting in northern Manitoba. The research was conducted under the auspices of the Missouri Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, Wildlife Management Institute, and University of Missouri cooperating) and the Eastern Prairie Population Subcommittee of the Mississippi Flyway Council Technical Section. Financial support was provided by the following agencies: Missouri Department of Conservation, Iowa Conservation Commission, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Manitoba Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canadian Wildlife Service, and the Edward K. Love Conservation Foundation. 1 Present address: New York Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Fernow Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. 2 Present address: Canadian Wildlife Service, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada. 46 J. Wildl. Manage. 45(1):1981 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.129 on Fri, 01 Jul 2016 05:05:03 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms CANADA GEESE IN MANITOBA * Malecki et al. 47 We acknowledge the support and assistance provided by W. R. Goforth, D. H. Rusch, R. D. Sparrowe, R. K. Brace, L. H. Fredrickson, and T. S. Baskett. We also express appreciation to the people of Churchill, Manitoba, without whose help this project could not have been completed in as timely a manner.