Goose Nests Research Articles

Effects of Research Activities on Nest Predation in Arctic-Nesting Geese

I examined the effects of nest visits and markers on nest predation in black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) and lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) at Anderson River, Northwest Territories, Canada. In 1993, clutch size at the end of incubation was 0.6 egg less (P = 0.020) at brant nests and 0.4 egg greater (P = 0.032) at snow goose nests, visited repeatedly, than at nests visited only once. I found no effect of nest visits on clutch size of brant (P = 0.500) in 1991. There was weak evidence that nest markers increased nest failure (P = 0.052) among snow geese in 1991 but markers did not influence the frequency of complete (P = 0.700) or partial (P = 0.232) clutch predation in brant in 1991 or in either species in 1993 (P > 0.117 in all cases). Nest markers did not affect clutch size or nest fate in these species, and were useful for identifying nests from a distance.

Factors affecting nest site selection and nesting success in the Common Eider Somateria mollissima

Nesting site selection and nesting success in Common Eiders Somateria mollissima were studied over a 3‐year period (1991–1993) in the Mast River delta (58o24'N, 94o24'W), 40 km east of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Eiders preferentially nested on islands that had incubating Lesser Snow Geese Anser caerulescens caerulescens on them; this effect was also seen between years on the same islands. Eiders which nested on islands with geese had a reduced chance of having eggs taken by predators during egg‐laying and had a greater chance of hatching once incubation had begun, independent of the number of other eiders nesting on the island. The distance to a goose nest was less in nests which did not lose eggs prior to incubation than in those which did, but there was no difference in the distance to a goose nest in eider clutches which did or did not hatch. Artificial eider eggs placed closer to goose nests had a lower probability of being predated than those placed farther away. Nests on islands farther up the river and farther from the mainland had higher nesting success, presumably because these nesting islands were inaccessible to Arctic Foxes Alopex lagopus.

Breeding of waders (Charadrii) and Brent Geese Branta bernicla bernicla at Pronchishcheva Lake, northeastern Taimyr, Russia, in a peak and a decreasing lemming year

During summer 1991, lemmings occurred at high densities in Arctic tundra at Pronchishcheva Lake in the northeastern Taimyr Peninsula, whereas, in 1992, lemming densities were substantially lower and decreased further during the summer. In 1991, avian predators such as Snowy Owls Nyctea scandiaca, gulls and skuas bred well; Arctic foxes Alopex lagopus were rarely observed in the study area but bred in the immediate vicinity. In both years there was a late thaw, but this did not deter breeding by birds. The insect food supply for waders showed similar patterns of abundance in both years. In 1991, 73 nests of nine species of wader were found within a 14‐km2 study area, and Dark‐bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla bernicla nested in association with Snowy Owls. The overall density of wader nests was estimated to be 7 per km2. Clutches disappeared at only two wader nests and no Brent Goose nests, and the Mayfield estimate of the daily probability of predation for waders was 0.0022. In contrast, the daily probability of predation was 0.20 in 1992, when there was a similar breeding density of waders. Arctic foxes were seen searching for food daily within the study area, and fox droppings were found associated with nests taken by predators. The predicted scenarios for peak and decreasing lemming years (the Roselaar‐Summers hypothesis), i.e. low predation and high nest success in the peak year and high predation and low nest success in the decreasing year, therefore occurred.

Impact of the Arctic Fox Alopex lagopus on nesting success of geese in southeast Svalbard, 1989

Goose populations, with special emphasis on Light-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla hrota, were censured in Tusenoyane and Tjuvfjorden, southeast Svalbard, July-August 1989. A total of 425 non-breeding Brent Geese, 210 Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis and 421 Pink-footed Geese Anser bra-chyrhynchus and 11, 2 and 3 families of the three species, respectively, were counted. Brent Geese attempted to nest on 6 of the 20 islands surveyed, and were successful on four. Barnacle Geese attempted to nest on three islands and were successful on two. Many islands known to be traditional nesting sites were entirely void of geese. Pink-footed Geese were only seen in Tjuvfjorden. The breeding failure on the islands was linked to the presence of the Arctic fox Alopex lagopus which probably caused the geese to completely give up the attempt to nest. On one island the fox had apparently arrived after nest initiation and ravaged 45 Brent Goose and Barnacle Goose nests. It is likely that the foxes stranded on the islands during ice break-up. As a consequence of the presence of foxes on most of Tusenoyane, more than half of the potential breeding segment of the Svalbard Brent Goose population failed to nest in the summer of 1989.

Impact of the Arctic fox Alopex lagopus on nesting success of geese in southeast Svalbard, 1989

Goose populations, with special emphasis on Light-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla hrota, were censured in Tusenøyane and Tjuvfjorden, southeast Svalbard, July-August 1989. A total of 425 non-breeding Brent Geese, 210 Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis and 421 Pink-footed Geese Anser bra-chyrhynchus and 11, 2 and 3 families of the three species, respectively, were counted. Brent Geese attempted to nest on 6 of the 20 islands surveyed, and were successful on four. Barnacle Geese attempted to nest on three islands and were successful on two. Many islands known to be traditional nesting sites were entirely void of geese. Pink-footed Geese were only seen in Tjuvfjorden. The breeding failure on the islands was linked to the presence of the Arctic fox Alopex lagopus which probably caused the geese to completely give up the attempt to nest. On one island the fox had apparently arrived after nest initiation and ravaged 45 Brent Goose and Barnacle Goose nests. It is likely that the foxes stranded on the islands during ice break-up. As a consequence of the presence of foxes on most of Tusenøyane, more than half of the potential breeding segment of the Svalbard Brent Goose population failed to nest in the summer of 1989.

The effect of experimental clutch harvest on numbers of magpie goose nests and juvenile recruitment

The effect of harvest of magpie goose clutches on nest numbers and juvenile recruitment was investigated experimentally within a single breeding colony, by comparing the densities of nests and offspring (eggs and goslings) produced in harvested and unharvested blocks in each of two successive years. When adjusted for initial differences in nest density, by covariance analysis, there were significantly higher densities of nests in harvested blocks than in unharvested blocks, possibly due to re-laying in new nests by those geese whose clutches were harvested. There were no differences in densities of offspring produced between harvested and unharvested blocks although there were differences in densities of offspring produced between years.

Density Dependent Bias in Aerial Counts of Magpie Goose Nests

Density Dependent Bias in Aerial Counts of Magpie Goose Nests

Controlled Pool Elevation and Its Effects on Canada Goose Productivity and Nest Location

A 5-year study was conducted that assessed Canada Goose (Branta canadensis moffitti) productivity and nest location in relationship to a controlled pool elevation. Data on clutch size were obtained for 108 nests of the 128 nests located, and no significant variation among years was detected. Nest success for the study period ranged from 66 to 86% while the number of nests varied from 22 to 29. No flooding of nests occurred because of the higher water levels, and nest productivity did not change significantly. Aspect of visibility was also found to be important with 77% of the geese having a view of the water.

Molts and Plumages of Gadwalls in Winter

the western Canada Goose (B. c. moffitti) may differ greatly from that of other races of Canada Geese if the limit is proportional to the size of the bird. The proximity of duck nests to goose nests reported herein may not have been accidental, as some ducks may be inclined to nest close to nesting geese to benefit from the goose's superior ability to deter predators (Long 1970, Giroux 1981). Egg retrieval by geese can result in the destruction of duck clutches laid within a goose's retrieval limit, and, consequently, there may be selection for ducks to situate their nests at some optimal distance from goose nests. Information contained in this note was gathered with the support of an operating grant to D. A. Boag from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. I thank R. Cotter for assistance in the field and D. A. Boag for his helpful comments on the manuscript. R. M. Evans and an anonymous reviewer also provided helpful suggestions. LITERATURE CITED

Intraclutch hatch synchronization in the lesser snow goose

We tested the synchronization ability of embryos in lesser snow goose clutches by observing the fate of eggs added to a clutch after incubation had begun. Data were collected experimentally by adding freshly laid eggs to nests of known incubation stage and by monitoring naturally occurring intraspecific nest parasitism events. The data suggest that eggs added to lesser snow goose nests can synchronize with the rest of the clutch and three explanations are presented.

Temporal Changes in Habitat Selection and Nest Spacing in a Colony of Ross' and Lesser Snow Geese

Abstract I studied the nesting colony of Ross' Geese (Chen rossii) and Lesser Snow Geese (C. caerulescens caerulescens) at Karrak Lake in the central Arctic of Canada in the summer of 1976. Related studies indicated that this colony had grown from 18,000 birds in 1966-1968 to 54,500 birds in 1976. In 1976, geese nested on islands that were used in the late 1960's and on an island and mainland sites that were previously unoccupied. Average nest density in 1976 was three-fold greater than in the late 1960's. Consequently, the average distance to nearest neighbors of Ross' Geese in 1976 was half the average distance determined 10 yr earlier. The mean clutch size of Ross' Geese was greater in island habitats where nest densities were high than in less populated island or mainland habitats. The average size of Snow Goose clutches did not differ significantly among island habitats but was larger at island than at mainland sites. Large clutches were most likely attributable to older and/or earlier nesting females. Habitat preferences apparently differed between species. Small clutches presumably indicated that young geese nested in areas where nest densities were low. The establishment of mainland nesting at Karrak Lake probably began with young Snow Geese using peripheral areas of the colony. Young Ross' Geese nested in sparsely populated habitats on islands to a greater extent than did Snow Geese. Ross' Geese also nested on the mainland but in lower densities than Ross' Geese nesting in similar island habitats. Successful nests with the larger clutches had closer conspecific neighbors than did successful nests with smaller clutches. The species composition of nearest neighbors changed significantly with distance from Snow Goose nests but not Ross' Goose nests. Nesting success was not affected by the species of nearest neighbor, however. Because they have complementary antipredator adaptations, Ross' and Snow geese may benefit by nesting together.

Correlation of laying and hatching sequences in clutches of the lesser snow goose (Anser caerulescens caerulescens)

Lesser snow goose nests were monitored daily during laying and hatching. Within each clutch, eggs were numbered serially as they were laid. Subsequently, the order of hatching within clutches was determined. In nests where three to five eggs hatched, the sequence of hatching was strongly dependent on the laying sequence. This implies that some development of embryos occurred throughout the laying period, so that the young varied in the stage of development attained prior to the onset of incubation. This inequality persisted until hatching, resulting in the observed asynchrony. Evidence from other workers suggests that development during laying occurs in some other waterfowl species, but does not necessarily result in asynchronous hatching or correlation of hatching and laying sequences.

Vegetation characteristics of Snow Goose nest sites

The vegetation at a Lesser Snow Goose breeding colony was examined to determine if particular plant species or species associations were characteristic of the nest sites of the geese. A stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that nest sites could be satisfactorily distinguished from the ambient vegetation using 2 of the 29 plant species growing in the quadrats. These two species, lyme grass (Elymus arenarius ssp. mollis) and arctic daisy (Chrysanthemum arcticum ssp. polare) were strongly associated with Snow Goose nest sites.Possible explanations for the association are examined. It is suggested that rather than a cause and effect relationship between plants and nest sites, E. arenarius and C. arcticum have similar ecological requirements to those of the geese for a nesting site.

Pintail Parasitizing Snow Goose Nest

Pintail Parasitizing Snow Goose Nest

Alligator Predation on Canada Goose Nests

Alligator Predation on Canada Goose Nests

Status of Giant Canada Geese Nesting in Southeast Manitoba

Surveys and banding between 1967 and 1970 delineated most of the nesting range of the giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) in Manitoba, which is occupied by three population segments with different migration routes. Canada geese nesting southeast, and perhaps east, of Lake Winnipeg occupy a small range of marginal habitat and number about 3,000 to 4,000. About one-third of this total congregates at the Alf Hole Sanctuary in autumn. The population during the study was relatively stable with indications of limitation because of delayed breeding and not because of mortality. Recaptures (88) demonstrated a high fidelity of adults to their breeding area and a delayed entry of birds of potential nesting age into the banding site nesting population. Lowered body weights were associated with poor reproductive success in 1 year. Distribution of band recoveries revealed a strong association with the Rock Prairie of southeast Wisconsin, and some geese were recovered in southern Illinois and vicinity. Southeast Manitoba and southeast Wisconsin together accounted for 69 and 82 percent of 58 direct and 85 indirect band recoveries, respectively, the majority being taken in Wisconsin. Yearling geese were recovered in a wider distribution than adults or immatures. A higher proportion of geese banded in autumn was directly recovered outside the main Manitoba-Wisconsin recovery area as compared to geese banded as flightless birds in July, indicating that a segment of the population has a migration path bypassing the main Wisconsin wintering area. Immatures were 1.56 times more likely to be shot than adults, but vulnerability did not vary by geographic area. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 40(2):214-226 The rediscovery of the existence of the presumed extinct giant Canada goose was reported by Hanson (1965). His documentation of the nesting range of remnant wild populations, most numerous in southern Manitoba, provided the impetus for increased investigation of the status of these populations and potential for management to maintain or increase their numbers. Accordingly, the Canadian Wildlife Service began an inventory and banding program of giant Canada geese in Manitoba in 1967. This paper reports partial results of this investigation with special reference to the giant Canadas nesting in southeast Manitoba. Sparse prior band recoveries and inventories indicated that the wintering ground of this population was the Rock Prairie in southeast Wisconsin, and that the population had declined (Hanson 1965: 83, 99). Primary objective of this study was to band larger samples from this population to understand more thoroughly its distribution and status. I am grateful to numerous personnel of the Manitoba Departments of Mines and Natural Resources and Parks and Recreation for providing records of nesting or flightless geese in summer and assisting in banding operations (R. Blanchard, E. Bossenmaier, R. Boultnick, A. Boychuk, C. Brooks, E. Collins, D. Davies, C. Dixon, B. French, M. Imrie, V. Jeffries, C. Jenkins, A. Pakulak, G. Parsons, J. Prosser, and R. Robertson). G. Adams and R. Hutchison, Canadian Wildlife Service, provided additional valuable observations. K. Hansen, Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, Kansas, and H. Hochbaum, Delta Waterfowl Research Station, Manitoba, generously made available for my examination recoveries of Canada geese banded at their stations. I am grateful to D. Johnson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for his advice with regard to survival estimates. Field work between 1Present address: Division of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, University of California, Davis 95616. 214 J. Wildl. Manage. 40 (2):1976 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.179 on Tue, 12 Apr 2016 10:02:31 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms GIANT CANADA GEESE IN MANITOBA * Raveling 215 1967 and 1971 was sponsored by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Time and facilities for data analysis and preparation of results were provided by the University of California, Davis.

Ross' Geese Nesting in Manitoba

Ross' Geese Nesting in Manitoba

Predation on Canada Goose Nests at McConnell River, Northwest Territories

Predation on Canada Goose Nests at McConnell River, Northwest Territories

Elevated and Floating Nest Structures for Canada Geese

Two types of goose nesting structures have been designed by the Colorado Division of Game, Fish and Parks. These structures are being used successfully by a resident flock of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in north-central Colorado, primarily Larimer County. The two types of structures are: (1) an elevated single-pole structure which consists of a nest box mounted on a 9-ft post, and (2) a floating canoe-like platform which supports a nest box. The materials, construction, and suggestions for erecting both types of structures are discussed. The Colorado Division of Game, Fish and Parks became active in Canada goose propagation in 1957. Between 1957 and 1962, a total of 34 adult Canada geese, and 381 goslings obtained primarily from the Denver metropolitan flock, were released in Larimer County, north-central Colorado, in an attempt to establish a resident breeding population (Will 1969:5). By 1962, the resident flock was considered well established and in need of no additional introductions (Grieb 1963). At the end of the production season of 1968, the Larimer County flock totaled approximately 1,555 (Will 1969:126). Both the Denver and Larimer County flocks contain primarily giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) (Hanson 1965). Although Larimer County includes a great number of water areas, natural nesting sites for Canada geese are extremely limited. The success and growth of the resident population in recent years has been attributed to the availability of a large number and variety of nesting structures. Of the 440 goose nests established in 1967 and 1968, 59 percent were on man-made sites which included a variety of elevated, ground, and floating structures. In 1967, 59 percent of the 186 available nesting structures were used by nesting geese. In 1968, 68 percent 1Present address: Idaho Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Idaho, Moscow. of the 201 available structures were used. Nesting success on all types of structures uring the 2-year period was 76 percent, while nests on natural sites were only 51 percent successful. Of the 22 nests destroyed by predators during the 2 years, 18 (82 percent) were located on the ground while only 4 (18 percent) were located on nesting structures. Nest desertion appeared to be no greater on man-made sites than on natural sites. Two improved types of nesting structures are being used extensively in Larimer County and are far superior in construction, maintenance, and acceptability by Canada geese, to other types that have been tried. The two types are: (1) an elevated single-pole structure which consists of a nest box mounted on a single pole, and (2) a floating canoe-like platform which supports a nest box. G. I. Crawford is credited with the design of both types of nesting structures. Details on materials, dimensions, and suggestions for construction are available upon request. SINGLE-POLE NEST STRUCTURE The single-pole structure consists of a 6-inch x 9-ft post treated with pentachlorophenol, which supports a 19-X 32-inch nest box (Fig. la). One continuous piece of snow fence, with 21/4 inches between laths, is nailed to a top and bottom frame to

Food Selection Experiments with Young Geese

Young Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and blue geese (Chen caerulescens) were tested experimentally for food preferences among six speces of grasses and sedges. Fifty-cm2 sods of two plant species were presented to two goslings in a test enclosure. The time intervals that individual birds spent feeding on each sod during a 90-minute test were recorded. Two pairs of goslings of each species were tested against all pair combination of the six plants. Each species show significant preference for some plants over others, and the preferences of the two species were demonstrably different. Faults in experimental design are discussed, and it is shown that results cannot be extended directly to free-ranging wild geese. Five species of geese nest on the coastal plains and larger islands of western and northern Hudson Bay. During the brood rearing period, two or more species may frequently be observed grazing together, apparently from a common food supply. This experiment, part of a broad study of food resources and their use by nesting geese, was designed to discover if young Canada and blue geese developed preferences for a restricted range of the available plant species, and, if so, whether the preferences differed between species. In food preference studies involving seeds, it is standard procedure to present test animals weighed amounts of seeds and either to record the order of disappearance (Michael and Beckwith 1955), or the weight differences after a given period of time (McFarland and George 1966). Because both species of geese were eating aerial parts of green vegetation, neither of these approaches was deemed suitable for the present test. In order to maintain the most natural conditions, geese were presented with fresh intact plants still rooted in sod. Although the six plant species tested were all identified in the feces of free-ranging geese, the principal criterion for choosing these species was their availability in sufficient pure stands to provide sods for the experiment. Description of the test plants appears in Table 1. This study was supported by contracts from the Canadian Wildlife Service, and by grants from the National Research Council of Canada, The Wildlife Management Institute, and the Arctic Institute of North America. The generous support of all these agencies is gratefully acknowledged. We wish also to thank R. Jones, T. T. McNulty, M. Harvey, P. Prevett, and W. Baumann or their assistance during the experiments. Special thanks are due to H. Boyd who reviewed manuscript.