This report presents results of the 31th consecutive, annual fall emperor goose population survey in southwest Alaska. This aerial survey was flown between 29 September and 4 October 2009 from Chagvan Bay to Bechevin Bay, including the entire north side of the Alaska Peninsula and the south side of the Alaska Peninsula, east to Wide Bay. The USFWS Turbine-Beaver (N754) was used and a left seat pilot/observer and right seat observer made observations along coastlines and over estuaries at an altitude of 45m (150 feet) ASL and airspeed of 200km/hr (110 kts). All species of waterbirds and marine mammals were counted with emphasis on emperor geese, Pacific brant, Canada geese, and Steller’s eiders. Population estimates for emperor geese, Canada geese, and Steller’s eiders within the entire survey area were 79,647, 46,954 and 57,320, respectively. Two additional replicate surveys of the Izembek NWR area were flown on 4 and 5 October to estimate sizes of the Pacific brant and Canada goose populations. Averages counts for the Izembek area were 144,594 Pacific brant (n=2 surveys) and 45,975 Canada geese (n=3 surveys).
