Nesting and molting Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were studied along and near the Churchill River, Manitoba, between Southern Indian Lake and the Hudson Bay Lowlands in 1969 and 1970. This was west of the known major breeding range of B. c. interior and may be altered by hydroelectric developments. Geese were continuously distributed on backwater lakes and on ponds in drainage systems directly connected to the river. Their distribution was contiguous with geese in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, and they were morphologically indistinguishable from B. c. interior. Band recoveries indicated that the study area lay in a zone of transition between geese migrating to Missouri from the Lowlands and geese migrating through the Central Flyway. Geese from the Churchill River, especially west of Fidler Lake (960 52' W longitude) contribute a relatively small number of birds compared to production in the Lowlands, but they are likely a significant portion of large Canada geese using the eastern Central Flyway. Nesting was on low profile sedge-willow (Carex-Salix) islands on the river and on marsh and fen bordered ponds on creek drainages. Densities of geese diminished rapidly away from the Churchill River. Brood rearing habitat was sparse and limited mainly to sedge growth along shorelines and backwater bays. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 41(7):35-47 In the late 1960's, the Manitoba government announced plans to construct a dam on the Churchill River at Missi Rapids, the outlet of Southern Indian Lake (Fig. 1). This structure would affect water flow, plant succession, and presumably, the Canada geese nesting in the area. Although Vaught and Kirsch (1966) suggested that the breeding range of the Eastern Prairie Population (EPP) of Canada geese covered most of northern Manitoba east of the 100th meridian, this was not verified by band recoveries or nesting records. The area to be affected was west of the peatland ponds of the Hudson Bay Lowlands generally considered as the major nesting range of B. c. interior (Hanson and Smith 1950: 74-91, Pakulak 1969:2-6). Reports from conservation officers and Indians established that Canada geese were nesting far inland along the Churchill River (E. F. Bossenmaier, personal communication) and Hanson (1965:206) reported that these geese, while similar to interior, represented a previously unrecognized subspecies isolated from interior. Because so little information was available on Canada geese of the Churchill River, a nesting survey was initiated in 1969, and banding was conducted in 1969 and 1970. The major objectives were to gain information on the relative numbers, habitat, morphology, and migration routes of Canada geese using the Churchill River between Missi Rapids and the Hudson Bay Lowlands. This was necessary to assess more thoroughly the distribution of Canada geese in northern Manitoba and the impact of proposed hydroelectric developments on their habitat and numbers. The study was a cooperative venture funded by the Manitoba Department of Mines and Natural Resources and the Canadian Wildlife Service. E. F. Bossenmaier was instrumental in origination, planning, a d coordination of the study. R. Halladay, G. Kaiser, G. Hochbaum, and R. McLandress assisted in field work. The advice and logistical support of the personnel of the Manitoba Government Air Service and Department of Mines and Natural Resources 1 Present address: Division of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, University of California, Davis 95616. J. Wildl. Manage. 41(1):1977 35 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.163 on Sun, 20 Nov 2016 04:24:27 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 36 CANADA GEESE OF THE CHURCHILL RIVER Raveling 102 99 96 93 90 87 Northwest Territories N