Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese - A Huge Problem

2022-03-22 Thread Johnson, Alyssa 
Hi everyone,

Here is a great article from Ducks Unlimited: 
https://www.ducks.org/conservation/national/light-goose-dilemma

There can be a great impact on the public when we get to experience things like 
the annual spring Snow Goose migration through the Finger Lakes, because it is 
amazing! Whenever I work with a tour group or give a presentation, I include 
this sort of information about the degradation of the arctic breeding grounds. 
The spectacle of seeing the geese can open up conversations about climate 
change, carrying capacity, and relative perspectives. We love them, but they're 
here for such a short amount of time I think we can all agree on the 
general feeling toward Canada Geese: messy, mean, ew, too many, pests, etc. Do 
we value Snow Geese more because they're graceful white birds similar to swans? 
And, because they're not here long enough to annoy us and degrade crops?

I always talk a lot about Mute Swans and European Starlings in these kinds of 
conversations. Ecologically, both species are similar in the damages they cause 
to native breeding birds, but we all know that many people LOVE Mute Swans and 
detest Starlings. Why? Big, white, graceful bird who is mostly out of sight and 
out of mind in a wetland somewhere when attacking and killing native birds? The 
carnage isn't as always in your face like we might see Starlings do. They'll 
come to our feeders by the dozens and many people see first-hand the damage 
they do because of nest boxes we check on,  thus are more apt to see the 
carnage. Anyway, there is a lot of psychology involved with wildlife management 
and public perception of wildlife and it's interesting to discuss.

Back to the article: "Light Goose" refers to Lesser and Greater Snow Geese, as 
well as Ross's Geese collectively (vs darker Canadas).

A few excerpts:

"Why have light goose numbers increased so dramatically over the past half 
century? In simple terms, the birds have benefited from the expansion of 
agriculture on their migration<http://www.ducks.org/hunting/migration> and 
wintering areas, which has provided them with an almost unlimited food supply. 
This has increased survival, allowing more young birds to reach breeding age 
and more adults to return to the breeding grounds in better condition, which 
has increased productivity.

Changes in land use have also altered the migration and wintering distribution 
of light geese. ... In recent decades, light geese have become more widely 
distributed as the birds have shifted to a diet largely consisting of waste 
grain and other agricultural foods during migration and winter. Lesser snow 
geese are now wintering farther north and over a much greater area than ever 
before, and Ross's geese have steadily expanded their range eastward over the 
past few decades."

"The effects of light goose overabundance were initially documented on breeding 
areas in the central and eastern Arctic and subarctic, but recent surveys 
indicate that population growth of lesser snow geese could also be occurring in 
the western Arctic at a similar pace. Although waterfowl managers believe 
existing breeding habitats can support light goose populations at current 
levels, the point at which continued population growth will exceed the capacity 
of the landscape to sustain the birds has yet to be determined. When 
traditional breeding habitats are degraded, light geese simply shift to 
different habitats or move to new areas where conditions are more favorable. No 
one knows how much potential breeding habitat exists in the Arctic and 
subarctic, or the proportion of current light goose breeding habitat that has 
been damaged or destroyed. In addition, more research is needed to determine 
light goose impacts on migration habitats during spring and fall."

"Defining a problem is not nearly as difficult as solving it, and so far the 
primary means of light goose population control has been through harvest 
management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Canadian 
Wildlife Service (CWS) have the shared responsibility of conserving waterfowl 
under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States and the Migratory 
Birds Convention Act in Canada. State and provincial wildlife agencies are also 
partners with significant management authority and operate within harvest 
frameworks established by federal agencies."

Alyssa

Alyssa Johnson
Environmental Educator
Montezuma Audubon Center

From: bounce-12640-79436...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Meredith Leonard 

Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 12:39:37 PM
To: Mary D ; cayugabirds-L@Cornell.Edu 
; Charles Rouse ; 
eatonbirdingsoci...@groups.io 
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese - A Huge Problem

Hello, Can someone please explain how this population of Snow Geese we saw this 
year is out of the ordinary over the long haul. Have human beings somehow 
contributed to an ov

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese - A Huge Problem

2022-03-22 Thread Meredith Leonard 
Hello, Can someone please explain how this population of Snow Geese we saw this 
year is out of the ordinary over the long haul. Have human beings somehow 
contributed to an overpopulation? Don't the populations always ebb and flow 
depending on many factors?  thanks for any input, Meredith

On Mar 22, 2022, at 11:07 AM, Mary D  wrote:

Why was this really necessary?  The study and data referenced is 25 years old 
and much has improved since then.  In an effort to reduce their numbers, many 
states, including New York, allow spring hunting of Snow Geese for at least 
over ten years, even though many are already carrying eggs.  In addition, these 
'breathtaking' flocks give many people of all ages joy and provide a means for 
many to start getting interested in birds and their causes that might not be 
otherwise.


From: bounce-126421229-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Charles Rouse 

Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 8:32 AM
To: 'eatonbirdingsoci...@groups.io' ; 
cayugabirds-L@Cornell.Edu 
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese - A Huge Problem
 
Greetings All,
For all of you who have been seeing the Snow Goose “breathtaking spectacle” 
throughout the Finger Lakes area and think it’s just the coolest thing you’ve 
ever seen – think again.
A number of years ago I attended a program at MNWR which focused on the 
out-of-control Snow Goose population and the devastating effect they are having 
the tundra where they breed. Bottom line is that Snow Geese are destroying the 
ultra-fragile tundra, which is made up of primarily of lichens which grow 
exceedingly slow. Snow Goose foraging behavior causes them to uproot the 
lichens entirely rather than nip them off above ground, which results in a 
Tundra desert.
I encourage everyone to Google: Trouble on the Tundra: Snow Geese Under The 
Gun, by Howard Schneider, 1997. If this was a major concern 25 years ago, 
imagine what the effect is today.
 
Charlie Rouse
Geneva, NY
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Re:[cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese - A Huge Problem

2022-03-22 Thread Mary D 
Why was this really necessary?  The study and data referenced is 25 years old 
and much has improved since then.  In an effort to reduce their numbers, many 
states, including New York, allow spring hunting of Snow Geese for at least 
over ten years, even though many are already carrying eggs.  In addition, these 
'breathtaking' flocks give many people of all ages joy and provide a means for 
many to start getting interested in birds and their causes that might not be 
otherwise.



From: bounce-126421229-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Charles Rouse 

Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 8:32 AM
To: 'eatonbirdingsoci...@groups.io' ; 
cayugabirds-L@Cornell.Edu 
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese - A Huge Problem


Greetings All,

For all of you who have been seeing the Snow Goose “breathtaking spectacle” 
throughout the Finger Lakes area and think it’s just the coolest thing you’ve 
ever seen – think again.

A number of years ago I attended a program at MNWR which focused on the 
out-of-control Snow Goose population and the devastating effect they are having 
the tundra where they breed. Bottom line is that Snow Geese are destroying the 
ultra-fragile tundra, which is made up of primarily of lichens which grow 
exceedingly slow. Snow Goose foraging behavior causes them to uproot the 
lichens entirely rather than nip them off above ground, which results in a 
Tundra desert.

I encourage everyone to Google: Trouble on the Tundra: Snow Geese Under The 
Gun, by Howard Schneider, 1997. If this was a major concern 25 years ago, 
imagine what the effect is today.



Charlie Rouse

Geneva, NY

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