Age-Related Recruitment of Canada Geese from the Mississippi Valley Population

Abstract

We studied age-specific recruitment of 411 neck-banded interior Canada geese (Branta canadensis interior) from the Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) from October 1985 to April 1986 and October 1986 to January 1987. No geese 0.5 and 1.5 years old were parents, whereas 5.9% of 2.5-year-olds, and 33.2% of 3.5->5.5-year-olds were parents. Parents 2.5-4.5 years old averaged 1.3 young/brood, whereas those >5.5 averaged 2.2 young/brood. Older geese (>5 yr) comprised 16% of the posthunting population and produced 47% of young. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 53(1):97-98 Age structure and age-related productivity (Raveling 1981) are important variables affecting recruitment of Canada geese and contribute to understanding goose population dynamics and to formulating better harvest management strategies (Raveling and Lumsden 1977). However, studies of age-specific productivity and recruitment in Canada geese (Craighead and Stockstad 1964, Brakhage 1965, Raveling 1981) generally have involved more southern nesting subspecies (western [B. c. moffitti] and giant [B. c. maxima] Canada geese) that are not subjected to breeding conditions as harsh as subarctic nesting geese from the MVP (Bellrose 1980). Consequently, conclusions of previous studies may not be applicable to the MVP. The objective of our study was to document age-related recruitment of Canada geese from the MVP. We thank D. F. Caithamer, R. J. Gates, and R. D. Pritchert for field assistance, and W. D. Klimstra and D. D. Thornburg for manuscript review. Funding was provided by the Department of Zoology and Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.