Michael R. Widner

We used winter aerial survey data to evaluate abundance, distribution, and habitat use of snow (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) and white-fronted geese (Anser alhifrons) wintering in Arkansas' Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). Longterm survey data indicate that numbers of both species have increased more than lO-fold during the past decade, with recent maximum survey counts of 503,000 and 19,000 for snow and white-fronted geese, respectively. During our study (198589), snow geese were distributed throughout Arkansas' MAV, but most whitefronted geese were observed in the southern portion...

Reproductive success of 94 ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) reintroduced into northern Arkansas during September and October 1984 was apparently low. Four broods were found during 2 reproductive seasons after release. Dispersal of all located male ruffed grouse was limited to a 1.6 km radius of the initial release site. Brood sightings in an area 2.4 to 2.8 km northeast of the initial release site were direct evidence of female dispersal. Survivorship of male grouse up to the first courtship drumming period was at least 25%.