Greetings All

Almost all parts of the state have a local "wildfowl fancier." No surprise
there is one around Sequim/Port Angeles. Mr Stumpy, the PA Emperor Goose,
arrived in mid-winter during a mini-invasion of that species to the Pacific
Northwest. Many species of geese, arriving as wild individuals, will tame down in city
parks during winter. I've hand fed Cackling Geese in Everett, Brant in LA,
Ross's Geese at several locations. Thus, it is hardly surprising to have a tame
Emperor Goose.

Does this mean that Stumpy is for-certain wild. Absolutely not. Origin issues
are always guess work weighing frequency in captivity vs. apparent patterns
of wild vagrancy. For a detailed discussion of Emperor Goose vagrancy in WA,
and the issue of tame birds at parks, see WOSNews number 36.

If local birders know of local wildfowl fanciers and think that Stumpy may
have escaped locally, then those local birders could make themselves useful and
contact said fanciers about Emperor Geese in their collections (or Falcated
Duck, as one was accepted from Sequim several years back).

Steven Mlodinow
Everett WA
SGMlod at aol.com