Banks 1956 Journal 54 Dec. 1-2, 1956 Gray Lodge Waterfowl Refuge, Butte Co., Calif. Characteristic gurgling flight sounds. Some indulged in a little dancing on the ground but not much. Snow and White Fronted Geese occasionally rose by the hundreds of thousands, circled and set back down. Even with these huge numbers it seemed only a small part of the birds flew. Pintails, in the open shallow water, rose by the thousands also, and Mallards in equally large numbers flushed from the cover of the tules and rushes. Almost invariably the pintails rose in open water, Mallards in the edge cover. Baldpates were fewer in numbers, but still common, and were mainly in open water. Shovelers were fewer yet, and were mainly at the edge of the tules + cattails, often going in and out. Teal occasionally flushed with the Mallards, flew straight away so as to hide field marks. I didn't get a positive make on any Teal, although Cinnamon were identified by others. Coot were everywhere, in all the open water, canals, and sloughs, and feeding on land. Canada Geese were scarce. Saw a small flock flying, and 2 on the water. Dead birds, mainly Pintails + Snow Geese, were commonly found lying around. Evidently they had been wounded, and had returned to the refuge to die. Signs of birds eaten by predators were fairly common. Some of these were probably dead + eaten by scavengers.