Tweeters,

For all of you interested in identifying Canada Goose subspecies from a distance, you might check out the
WDFW web site and look at science publications. There is one on genetic sampling of Canada Geese identified
as Dusky Canada Geese based on measurements and color characterization of dead birds brought to check
stations by hunters. Half of the males and one third of the females were determined, by genetic assessment,
to be from areas outside the breeding range of the Dusky Canada Goose.

For me, these results are strong reaffirmation of the difficulties of accurately assessing subspecies
of Canada Geese from a distance. And I thought identification of Duskies was less of a problem than
Taverners versus Lessers and Westerns.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington
Reply to: mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov