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A study was conducted to determine the survival of migrating Canada geese when nesting areas were destroyed. Results showed that destruction of nests increased hunting mortality of geese besides other problems that need management.

Sichuan pheasants were introduced in Michigan to increase falling pheasant numbers and to establish new populations. It was believed that the new arrivals would hybridize with existing ring-necked pheasants and could increase genetic diversity. A new study evaluates the reproductive success and survival of captive-reared female Sichaun pheasants, ring-necked and F1 hybrids released in southern Michigan. Results show little difference in dispersal differences among pheasant types, with higher survival and reproductive rates shown by Sichuan/ring-neck hybrids. However, releases of captive-reared pheasants to increase wild populations may be ineffective.

Call-counts of male ring-necked pheasants have commonly been used as a population index and it is assumed that the number of calls over a fixed time period corresponds to pheasant abundance. A new study measures the crowing rate of ring-necked pheasants during a fixed period to test the assumption that crowing rates are not linked to age, year, subspecies and weather variables. Results of the study support the hypothesis that crowing rates vary by sub-species, but wind speed, temperature and cloud cover are insignificant in explaining variations in crowing rates. Suggestions for improving crowing count surveys are included.

A study using established methods of genetic stock identification and standardized harvest sample collections to estimate proportional contributions of cackling and Canada geese are presented. Results reveal that proportions of giant and interior Canada geese within local harvest varied significantly.

The significance of using molecular genetics methods, which trace animal spatial movement and population, is examined.

The use of tail feather to determine sex and estimate sex ratios of harvested Canada geese are described. The joint use of standardized parts collection and genetic-based analyses for harvest derivation in states and provinces across North America are highlighted.

Research is presented on American woodcock (Scolopax minor) adults and juveniles which were banded in Michigan from 1978 to 1998. Survival and recovery rates are compared to those from previous years; differences were small. Key findings include low survival rates for juveniles.

Molecular genetic markers, used with maximum-likelihood methods and microsatellite loci, provide accurate proportional contribution estimates of subspecies and population samples of Canada goose. Implications for hunting and management techniques are discussed.