Goose Nests Research Articles

Nesting Colonies of Ross' Goose

THE last nesting grounds of North American geese to be discovered were those of the Ross' Goose, Chen rossii. During the early 1950s population estimates from the wintering grounds in California indicated a total of 2,000 birds (Lloyd, 1952; Hanson et al., 1956). In 1958 the population had increased to 10,000 (Munro, 1958). Recently Dzubin (1965) estimated the population to be 44,000. In view of the apparent increase in numbers, evidently more nesting colonies now exist than Gavin (1947) and Hanson et al. (1956) reported in the Perry River Region, Northwest Territories. I investigated the distribution of Ross' Geese in the central Arctic in 1965, 1966, and 1967, to delineate its breeding range and determine the factors that define suitable nesting habitat for the species. Between 18 July and 1 August 1949, Hanson et al. (1956) made aerial surveys of the mainland between the Ellice and Simpson Rivers, N.W.T. (see Figure 1), in search of Ross' Goose nesting colonies. The geese had already dispersed from the nesting lakes and no colonies were located. In 1960, T. W. Barry, Canadian Wildlife Service, surveyed the western and central Arctic by air from the Anderson River (69? 45' N, 1290 00' W) to Sherman Basin (68? 00' N, 98? 21' W) (Barry, 1960). At th'e time of the survey (16-22 August) most of the geese had left the nesting areas, completed their postnuptial molt, and were able to fly. No nesting colonies were found, although 9,000 Ross' Geese were seen on the mainland along Queen Maud Gulf. On 30 June 1938 Angus Gavin (1947) recorded the first nesting colony of 100 Ross' Geese at a small lake (now called Discovery Lake, at 671 33' N, 101? 49' W) 14 miles southeast of the Perry River estuary. During subsequent searches in 1939, 1940, and 1941, Gavin found two other nesting colonies near Discovery Lake and estimated a breeding population of 600 pairs on the three lakes. Hanson et al. (1956) found a fourth colony of about 260 pairs on 28 June 1949, 25 miles south of the mouth of the Perry River on what is now known as Arlone Lake (67? 22' N, 1020 10' WV). These four lakes were the only major nesting concentrations of Ross' Geese known before the present investigation. Hanson et al. (1956) found that Discovery Lake was abandoned in 1949, but do not mention Gavin's other two colonies. They found two Ross' Goose nests on a floodplain adjoining the Perry River and one on Goose Island, an islet in the Perry River, in June 1949; rising waters during the spring breakup destroyed all three nests. A total of 52 Ross' Geese have been reported

Canada Goose Nesting Record for Battleford

Canada Goose Nesting Record for Battleford

Goslings Descend from Aerial Nest

Goslings Descend from Aerial Nest

Observations on the Lesser Snow Goose Nesting Grounds, Egg River, Banks Island

Observations on the Lesser Snow Goose Nesting Grounds, Egg River, Banks Island

Great Basin Canada Goose Nesting Populations at the Former Lake Lenore National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

Great Basin Canada Goose Nesting Populations at the Former Lake Lenore National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

Leucocytozoon bonasae in Ruffed Grouse; Its Possible Relationship to Fluctuations in Numbers of Grouse

During the summer of 1949, Canada geese were observed by pilots, survey crews, and the author on the Colville River, from the headwaters to the 70th parallel on the arctic slope of Alaska. Reports by Eskimos that the geese nest on cliffs of the river was confirmed by locating a single nest and seeing a number of paired birds on the steep north banks. The banks are almost vertical and capped with overhanging tundra. The base continually sloughs into the river during periods of intense flow. The slopes are barren except for scattered bunches of grass and an occasional patch of willow. Climbing the 50to 300-foot slopes is treacherous. A search of about 10 miles of bank resulted in finding only one nest but geese were flushed from many inaccessible points. The nest (July 9, 1949) was in the open, 45 feet above the turbulent water and 50 feet below a rock ledge. The incubating goose was not flushed but the mate was nearby and left the scene. Geese were seen and flushed from similar locations along the Colville. The cliffs of the Colville are undoubtedly a favorite nesting site of the Canada goose in the Arctic. Non-breeding birds were observed on the river bars. Weights and measurements of five nonbreeders, banded on July 12 and 13, identify the species as Branta canadensis leucopareia. A survey party located a nest with 6 eggs on the Etivluk River on July 5, 1949. Accepted for publication January 9, 1953.

Canada Geese Nesting in Maine

Canada Geese Nesting in Maine

Canada Goose Nests and Eggs

Canada Goose Nests and Eggs