Hi folks,

Late last Spring, I'd reported on a couple of banded Canada geese that I'd observed on Bainbridge Island. On Sunday, May 25 1997, I observed 2 banded Canada geese (Branta canadensis moffitti) at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island, 4 miles NW of Winslow. The larger of the two was banded with 848-76729; The smaller was banded with 848-76725

These were the only 2 banded geese I noted among about 25 Canadas using a park pond.

I received "Certificates of Appreciation" from the Bird Banding Laboratory noting that these birds were banded by J Gary Oldengurg on 06/22/95 "near Centralia, Washington.

I contacted Roger Woodruff with USDA/APHIS/ADC in Olympia. He noted that both geese were captured at Keyport in Kitsap County and were relocated to the Centralia area in 1995. He told me that they'd moved several hundred (700?) geese, but had given that project up, as it was neither effective nor cost-effective. He didn't have any summary information on the geese they had relocated over the last 7 years (none were relocated this year).

The USDA Animal Damage Control folks say they are pretty much in a quandry about how to deal with these "Urban Geese". Relocation doesn't work. Lethal removal is not too effective either, and runs afoul of the 'animal rights' types. Addling eggs has helped a bit in some locations, but is labor-intensive, expensive and doesn't address the burgeoning population of these things all over western Washington and elsewhere. What to do?

There's a few banded geese down at Capitol Lake in Oly, so I'll take the old 10Xs down there while some kid's feeding them (contrary to the local ordinances), and see if I can read the bands and find out where those birds came from. Maybe other 'urban birders' can read a few bands on these 'urban geese', report them to bbl at nbs.gov or 1-800-327-BAND, and share your findings on Tweeters.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net