Subject: Neck Bands
Date: Oct 23 18:35:27 1994
From: grant hendrickson - ghendric at potlatch.esd112.wednet.edu


Another new experience for me today. While enjoying a beautiful day of
birding on the Columbia White-tail Deer Refuge in SW Washington, I saw my
first neck-banded Canada Goose in a large flock feeding in an open
meadow. It was a red band with the letters HAS clearly readable. There
may have been one more letter I couldn't see.

Should these sightings be reported? If so, to whom?

This same flock of geese was the source of another enjoyable episode. A
forkhorn whitetail buck wanted to cross the meadow, but was intimidated
by the several hundred geese. It didn't seem to occur to him to go
around. He pawed the ground, shaking his head, in an apparent attempt to
scare the geese away. They were not impressed. He then minced his way
into the flock a short way, and then bolted back. That action scared
enough of the flock so that a few took off. The deer then bolted full speed
through the geese, scattering them, some flying off and others honking
loudly. When he reached the other side, he stood looking back, seemingly
congratulating himself on his courage.

In the same meadow were a group of Common Snipe in a boggy area, two pair
of Green-Winted Teal, one Killdeer. On the river behind us was one Snow
Goose with a small flock of Canadas. Four Common Mergansers and three
Northern Shovelers were in the same part of the river.

Beautiful afternoon!

Grant Hendrickson
University of Portland
ghendric at esd112.wednet.edu