The closest wild population of Pink-footed Geese is
in eastern Greenland and their expected migration
path would be eastward to Great Britain and western
Europe.

The closest wild population of Bean Geese in Siberia
and while the migration route is more or less due
south Siberian migrants of many species regularly
end up in western North America.

A wild Pink-footed Goose would have had to go far more
seriously astray than a wild Bean Goose. Private
collecting of exotic geese is very popular. At Brownsmead
here in Clatsop Co. we have a collector who has 6 Emperor
Geese and an enclosed aviary full of exotic teal.

The probability favors escaped aviary birds. That doesn't
mean they aren't worth going to look at and it's not like
you won't see other good stuff. It's Bowerman Basin after
all.

Gayle Benton wrote:
>
> Hi Tweets,
> I am wondering why it is more likely that the Pink-footed Geese are escapees
> than the Bean Goose or am I reading this wrong? I am weighing the idea of
> going to Bowerman this weekend. Thanks in advance.
> Gayle Benton
> Eastsound, WA
> gbenton at rockisland.com

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes,
The blackbird whistling
Or just after.

- Wallace Stevens

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html