Greetings All--
The following was posted:
This unique goose hung out with a flock of Canada Geese that had several banded
individuals and these banded birds all came from the Longview -Kelso area. This
Barnacle Goose returned to the Whitman Mission area each fall in mid-November
for three winters until freeze up at which time it headed out to the Columbia
River and McNary NWR. We were told by the "experts" that it was an escapee. I
disagree and now knowing that there is a movement corridor east to west through
central Canada that could easily host an on the move Barnacle Goose, changed my
perspective. Take hart and never assume that it is an "escapee". After locating
a Variegated Flycatcher ( 4500 miles out of range) at Wind Dust Park, Franklin
Co., WA anything could be anywhere.
I would like to point out several things regarding the above post.
1- No one keeps Variegated Flycatchers in captivity. Barnacle Geese are commonly kept.
2- I take exception with the label "experts." Does taking the opinion of knowledgeable individuals, calling them experts, and then surrounding that term in quotes lessen their knowledge?
3- I would like to see evidence of a east to west corridor through central Canada. Though Mallard and Canada Geese that breed in Alberta do winter in WA, this hardly qualifies for a corridor that would shuttle European (even from Greenland) to Pacific states and provinces. When the PF Geese appeared in Grays Harbor, one Washington birder tried to establish evidence for such a corridor. Records of Greenland WF Geese and such were quoted from Colorado, Illinois, and other interior locations. However, no one living in those states ever heard of such records, and none were ever published in a journal. In reality, the only European species has EVER occurred along/near the west coast of North America except European Golden-Plover, some gulls (which likely breed or do breed in North America), and possibly the PF Geese (which, unlike Barnacle Geese, are rare in captivity).
4- Additionally, how would this east-west Canadian corridor explain Barnacle Geese in New Mexico, Phoenix, San Diego, and other such odd localities.
5- And escapees can wander huge distances, such as a Red-breasted Goose shot at the Salton Sea (which was "acting like a wild goose") that happened to bear a band from its original owner... which was in some place such as Ohio... I can't remember the exact location.
6- Again, the provenance of any one record is not knowable, but using existing patterns, one can come to intelligent conclusions. I could see the Pink-footed Goose record easily argued either way. It is rare in captivity, its population is growing quickly. However, the scatter of Barnacle Goose records across our fair continent has been present for a century, and it includes times when that species' wild population was extremely low
Nonetheless, they are pretty birds, indeed... and like Red-crested Pochard (which I've found in two states, one wary, one not), they are fun to happen upon, but that does not make them birds of wild provenance.
Best Wishes and Good Cheer
Steven Mlodinow