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Disturbance by the investigators was not believed to be an important cause of desertion, since visits were short and the Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were not kept away from the nest long enough to cause chilling of the eggs. Human disturbance over extended periods apparently did increase the desertion rate. This was indicated on two islands in the lake where people were living during part of one nesting season. In one case six out of eight nests were deserted, and in the other six out of nine nests were deserted. In years of no human disturbance, nesting success was above average on these two islands.