Greetings All

So, I think it was Dr. Paulson that asked me a couple months ago about
whether or not Blue Geese occurred on Wrangel Island. This was apropros of the
recent spate of Blue Geese among Fir Island/Stanwood flocks (spate = 2-4 per year).

After some delay, I've heard back from a Russian goose biologist, Konstantin
Litvin, who actually sent some photos of Blue Geese on Wrangel. Apparently
they are annual there, though he did not indicate in what kind of numbers. He did
state that most were males and most paired with Snow Geese. This certainly
would explain the Blue Geese found in Skagit/Snohomish, though the two immatures
I've seen looked like pure Blues.

Also of note, Maynard Axelson knows of at least one Snow Goose shot by
hunters in Skagit County that had been banded in the Canadian Arctic.

So, it is also possible that a Blue Goose or two is coming from that angle.
Certainly, e. WA Blue Geese are almost certainly from the Canadian Arctic.

Anyway, thought some of you out there might be interested in this. Blue Geese
are not supposed to nest (per various books) anywhere near Wrangel.

Cheers
Steven Mlodinow