Stolen from the Fuge. Some good estimates in there, not for the wavies though.
Pacic Population (PP)
Canada Geese
These large Canada geese nest and winter
west of the Rocky Mountains from northern Alberta
and British Columbia south through the
Pacic Northwest to California (Figure .
The total of PP goose indices in 2010 was
145,000, 3% lower than last year. Most PP
geese are surveyed in Alberta (WBPHS strata
76{77) where 91,300 (51; 000) were estimated
in 2010, 34% more than the estimate in 2009
(P = 0:436). Indices of nesting eort increased
in Alberta and Idaho from 2009 levels but decreased
in all other areas. Several States reported
that cold and wet spring conditions, and flooding reduced gosling production in 2010. Although
gosling production in 2010 may be reduced
from that of 2009 a fall flight similar to last year is expected.
Dusky Canada Geese (DCG)
These mid-sized Canada geese predominantly
nest on the Copper River Delta of southeastern
Alaska, and winter principally in the
Willamette and Lower Columbia River Valleys
of Oregon and Washington (Figure . Dusky
Canada geese are surveyed near the Copper
River Delta and Middleton Island, Alaska. The
46 Status of Geese
2010 spring population estimate was 9,500 DCG,
42% above last years count which was the lowest
recorded since 1986 (Figure 14.2). These estimates
have decreased an average of 4% during
2001{2010 (P = 0:115). April and May temperatures
on the Copper River Delta were near average
in 2010 and nesting phenology appeared to
be earlier than average. An above-average run
of spawning eulachon (a common prey sh of eagles)
likely contributed to the observed high rate
of nest success (75%) and likely will reduce eagle
predation on dusky geese this year. Gosling production
is expected to be near average in 2010.
Cackling Canada Geese
Cackling Canada geese nest on the Yukon-
Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) of western Alaska.
They primarily winter in the Willamette and
Lower Columbia River Valleys of Oregon and
Washington (Figure . The primary index of
this population is an estimated fall population
derived from the spring surveys of adults on the
YKD. The fall estimate for 2010 is 188,600 geese,
17% higher than last years estimate. These estimates
have increased an average of 2% per
year since 2001 (P = 0:123, Figure 15). Indices
of total cackling geese and indicated pairs
in the YKD coastal zone in 2010 were only
slightly lower than the record-high level of 2008.
Spring snow pack was sparse in 2010 and despite
cool spring temperatures and later-than average
break-up of the Yukon River, nesting
on the YKD began earlier than average. The
median hatch date of cackling geese was three
days earlier than the long-term average. Yukon
Delta nesting surveys conducted during 2010 indicated
clutch sizes were slightly below average,
fox predation was reduced from the levels of recent
years, and nest success appeared to be good
throughout most of the incubation period. However,
a prolonged storm with high winds and
precipitation occurred at the end of the nesting
period, and several eld camps reported moderate
flooding of nests. Overall, above-average
production and a fall flight similar to that of last
year are expected.
Estimated numbers of cackling
Canada geese (fall geese).
Lesser and Taverner's Canada Geese
These populations nest throughout Alaska
and winter in Washington, Oregon, and California
(Figure . Taverner's geese are more
strongly associated with tundra areas of the
North Slope and western Alaska, while lesser
Canada geese tend to nest in Alaska's interior.
However, these geese mix with other Canada
geese throughout the year and reliable estimates
of separate populations are not presently
available. The 2010 estimate of Canada geese
within WBPHS strata predominantly occupied
by these subspecies (strata 1{6, 8, 10{12) was
78,200, 15% higher than the 2009 estimate
(P = 0:635). These estimates have declined an
average of 1% per year since 2001 (P = 0:564).
Spring conditions were warm and dry in Alaska's
interior in 2010. The timing of spring break-up
appeared to be near average and little
ooding
was observed. In general, above-average production
of lesser Canada geese was expected in interior
areas. Spring phenology on the Yukon Delta
was slightly early and above average production
of Taverner's geese is expected there. Goose
nesting phenology appeared to be somewhat delayed
on the North Slope and some
ooding was
reported there. Taverner's production on the
North Slope is expected to be below average.
Status of Geese 47
0 50 100 150
Year
Thousands
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Figure 16: Estimated numbers of Aleutian
Aleutian Canada Geese (ACG)
The Aleutian Canada goose was listed as
endangered in 1967 (the population numbered
approximately 800 birds in 1974) and was delisted
in 2001. These geese now nest primarily
on the Aleutian Islands, although historically
they nested from near Kodiak Island, Alaska
to the Kuril Islands in Asia. They now winter
along the Pacic Coast to central California
. Aleutian goose population estimates
since 1996 are based on analysis of observations
of neck-banded geese in California. The preliminary
population estimate during the winter of
2009{2010 was 126,400 (27; 600), 52% higher
than the revised previous estimate (P = 0:021,
Figure 16). These estimates have increased an
average of 3% per year during the last 10 winters
(P = 0:305). Biologists working on Buldir
Island reported goslings were present by 15 June
(suggesting early nesting phenology), a mean
clutch size of 4.8 eggs (equaling the long-term
average), and a strong nesting eort. A fall
flight similar to that of last year is expected.
Last edited by Crazy_Farmer; 07-26-2010 at 08:05 PM.
Western Arctic/Wrangel Island Population
(WAWI)
Most of the snow geese in the Pacic Flyway
originate from nesting colonies in the western
and central Arctic (WA: Banks Island, the
Anderson and Mackenzie River Deltas, and the
western Queen Maud Gulf region) or Wrangel
Island (WI), located o the northern coast of
Russia. The WA segment of the population
winters in central and southern California, New
Mexico, and Mexico; the WI segment winters
in the Puget Sound area of Washington and in
northern and central California. In
winter, WA and WI segments commingle with
light geese from other populations in California,
complicating surveys. The fall 2009 estimate of
WAWI snow geese was 901,000, 6% lower than
in 2008. Biologists
report that snow melt and nesting phenology
were early on Banks Island. Kendall
Island and the Anderson River colonies were
not visited in 2010 but satellite imagery suggested
snow melt occurred early there. Preliminary
estimates from Wrangel Island's Tundra
River colony included a spring population of
150,000 adults, however snow melt was very late
and < 5; 000 nests were initiated. Biologists expect good production
from Banks Island but very poor production
from Wrangel Island. A near-average fall
flight is expected in 2010.
Pacic Population White-fronted Geese (PP)
These geese primarily nest on the Yukon-
Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) of Alaska and winter
in the Central Valley of California (Figure
17). The index for this population since
1999 has been a fall population estimate derived
from spring surveys of adults on the YKD and
Bristol Bay. The 2010 fall estimate is 649,800,
21% higher than the 2009 estimate and a new
record high. Spring snow pack was sparse in
2010 and despite cool spring temperatures and
later-than-average break-up of the Yukon River,
nesting on the YKD began earlier than average.
The median hatch date of white-fronted geese
was two days earlier than the long-term average.
Yukon Delta nesting surveys conducted during
2010 indicated clutch sizes were near average,
fox predation was reduced from the levels of recent
years, and nest success appeared to be high
throughout most of the incubation period. However,
a prolonged storm with high winds and
precipitation occurred at the end of the nesting
period, and several eld camps reported moderate
flooding of nests. Good production and
another large fall flight are expected.
Pacific Brant
These brant nest across Alaska's Yukon-
Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) and North Slope,
Banks Island, other islands of the western and
central Arctic, the Queen Maud Gulf, and
Wrangel Island. They winter as far south as
Baja California and the west coast of Mexico. The 2010 MWS estimate of brant.In the Pacic Flyway and Mexico was 143,900.
Winter surveys were not conducted in Mexico
in 2009 due to sociopolitical unrest, so there is
no comparable estimate from 2009. The 2010
estimate is 2% lower than the estimate from
2008. Spring snow pack was sparse in
2010 and despite cool spring temperatures and
later than average break-up of the Yukon River,
the median hatch date of brant was similar to
the long-term average. The total number of
brant nests at ve primary colonies on the YKD
decreased 21% in 2010 from 2009, and nest
abundance at each colony was reduced. Yukon
Delta nesting surveys, outside the main colonies,
indicated nest abundance was well above the 10-
year average, clutch sizes were slightly below average,
fox predation was reduced from the levels
of recent years, and nest success appeared to be
good throughout most of the incubation period.
However, a prolonged storm with high winds and
precipitation occurred at the end of the nesting
period, and several eld camps reported moderate
flooding of nests. Spring phenology was expected
to be early on Banks Island, and delayed
on the North Slope and near the Queen Maud
Gulf. Overall, brant production is expected to
be variable but similar to that of last year.
Western High Arctic Brant (WHA)
This population of brant nests on the Parry
Islands of the Northwest Territories.
The population stages in fall at Izembek Lagoon,
Alaska. They predominantly winter in Padilla,
Samish, and Fidalgo Bays of Washington and
near Boundary Bay, British Columbia, although
some individuals have been observed as far south
as Mexico.
Satelite Status of Geese 53
imagery indicated very little snow cover on the
Parry Islands during spring of 2010 which is consistent
with an expectation for excellent brant
production.
Status of Emperor Geese
The breeding range of emperor geese is restricted
to coastal areas of the Bering Sea,
with the largest concentration on the Yukon-
Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) in Alaska. Emperor
geese migrate relatively short distances and primarily
winter in the Aleutian Islands . Since 1981, emperor geese have been
surveyed annually on spring staging areas in
southwestern Alaska. The 2010 emperor goose
survey estimate was 64,600, 30% lower than
in 2009 . Aerial surveys during
the YKD coastal survey in 2010 indicated a
slight increase in the number of pairs, and a
slight decrease in total birds from 2009 levels.
A long-term increasing trend in both indices is
still apparent in the coastal survey data. Spring
break-up on the Yukon River was slightly later
than average in 2010, but emperor goose nesting
phenology was two days earlier than the long term
average. Nesting surveys conducted on
the YKD during 2010 indicated clutch sizes were
slightly below average but nest success was high
throughout most of the incubation period. The
impacts of a prolonged rain storm that occurred
at the end of the nesting period are not known
but several eld camps reported moderate
flooding of nests. Good production and a fall
flight similar to that of recent years are expected.
.
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