Subject: Re: RFI: Canada Goose
Date: May 26 10:55:32 1998
From: Michael Price - mprice at mindlink.bc.ca


Hi Tweets,

Gail Spitler writes:

>Between May 20 and May 24 we had fairly large flocks of Canada Geese flying
>overhead. The size of the flocks range from approx. 60 to 110 birds. Does
>anyone have any information about where these birds are going and what race
>they are?

Gail, can't speak to race or destination, but these are likely birds on
their way to a molt-lake, a safe site to spend the molting period during
which they are flightless. They could be unattached subadults and other
non-breeders, or parents which have stashed the kids in a creche and then
scarpered off. For some species, the sites of some of their molt-lakes is
still unknown, so you may want to keep an eye out in your area for
anomalously high numbers of flocking geese without young.

They're just starting to arrive at Lost Lagoon, a known molt-lake for birds
from the Fraser Valley. In a few weeks the ground will be littered with
flight-feathers.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery, and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)