Russell and Tweeters,

The reason for the increased frequency of Ross's Goose sightings
in WA (and in B.C.) in recent years is undoubtedly because of the
"population explosion" experienced by this species over the last
half-century or more. I don't have the complete story, but from the
website quoted by Charles Swift, "Birds of Canada" by Godfrey (1986),
and other sources, world population estimates for Ross's Goose are as
follows:

1931 6,000
1965 32,000
1983 100,000 plus
1988 188,000 (Queen Maud Gulf population only)

In 1931, Ross's Goose would probably have been considered
"Threatened" by today's standards. Its nesting grounds were not even
discovered until 1938. In addition to the main breeding population in
the Queen Maud Gulf (Perry River and vicinity) area of Canada's
central Arctic, there is a population of at least 40,000 Ross's
breeding along the McConnell River on central-western Hudson Bay, and
a small but growing population on Baffin Island. Indications are that
the continental population continues to grow. The very rare blue color
phase of Ross's Goose was not even described until fairly recently,
but is getting more frequent as the population (and presumably genetic
diversity within the population) continues to grow.

Given this spectacular population increase, it is not surprising
that sightings of Ross's Geese from areas outside the main migration
and wintering areas (e.g. Washington and B.C.) are getting much more
frequent.

By the way, Russell, thanks for sharing with us the excerpt from
your Washington birds database. A quick tally of the 45 records shows
that
nearly half of them-- 22 records-- are from east of the Cascades,
with most of these in the southeastern counties (Walla Walla, Whitman,
Benton, etc.) Considering that there are relatively few birders in SE
Washington compared to the Puget Sound area, the southeast is clearly
the most likely area in the state for Ross's Geese to turn up.

Sincerely,

Wayne C. Weber
114-525 Dalgleish Drive
Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6E4
Phone: (250) 377-8865
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca



-----Original Message-----
From: Russell Rogers <rrogers at halcyon.com>
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Saturday, April 01, 2000 11:22 AM
Subject: Ross's Goose in WA


Hello Tweeters,

I have 45 Ross?s Goose records in my database for Washignton since
1993
(distilled from over 75 reports). A few records may represent the same
individual that moved from one location to another. Ten records
involve
more than one individual. Prior to the 1990?s, Ross?s Goose was still
considered very rare with reports generally occurring more than 5
years
apart. Since then they have become annual with reports coming from all
corners of the state. I have disscussed this trend with others and can
come of with no logical explanation for it.

I occasionally get reports of 100?s or 1000?s of Ross?s Geese from the
Skagit area. Since it is a well known wintering area for the Wrangle
Island Snow Goose population, and that reports of that nature are well
outside of the pattern of occurance from other parts of the state, I
have to assume that they are of mistaken identity.

< snip >