About This Project

Every spring snow geese from northern Puget Sound fly more than 3,000 miles to the Russian Arctic, to their breeding grounds on Wrangel Island, Russia. These geese represent a unique population breeding in Asia and wintering in North America. These geese have a dramatic history - 40 years ago the population experienced a substantial decrease necessitating an exceptional cooperative collaboration between unlikely partners (Soviet Union and USA) to re-build this population for future generations. Wrangel Island Snow Geese (WISG) have traditionally used very discrete estuary and agricultural habitats associated with Skagit and Port Susan Bays, but currently with a changing Arctic ecosystem, there are significant changes on the wintering grounds. This research aims to explore the current status, distribution, structure and habitat use of these geese in northern Puget Sound. In addition, the project will continue extensive educational program in the Pacific Northwest.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Evaluate current distribution, site fidelity, and habitat use of WISG . Spread knowledge about the life cycle of WISG as a component of our environment for everyone, including farmers, bird watchers, hunters, students, indigenous peoples and local communities

1.What is the current distribution of the Skagit-Fraser flock?

2.How has the distribution changed over the years?

3.How much interchange occurs among subgroups in the flock?

4.Do individual geese have fidelity to specific areas within one winter and among years?

5.Do sub-adults and adults behave similarly, or are distribution and interchange patterns different between these cohorts?

6.What food resources are being selected and utilized compared to availability?

7. Give 10 lectures and presentations about WISG

8. Give 6 public field seminars - "What can we learn from large flocks of WISG?"

What is the significance of this project?

Wrangel Island Snow Goose (WISG) flocks consisting of many thousands of birds are a wonderful natural phenomenon in the Pacific Northwest. Every spring snow geese from northern Puget Sound fly more than 3,000 miles to the Russian Arctic for breeding. WISG is a unique snow goose population breeding in Asia and wintering in North America. WISG has a dramatic history - 40 years ago populations experienced a substantial decrease necessitating an exceptional cooperative collaboration between unlikely partners (Soviet Union and USA) to re- build this population for future generations. WISG has traditionally used very discrete estuary and agricultural habitats associated with Skagit and Port Susan Bays, but currently with changes in Arctic ecosystem, there are significant changes on the wintering grounds. This research aims to explore the current status, distribution, structure and habitat use of Wrangel Island Snow Geese in northern Puget Sound. The research results are critical for the management of this unique international resource.

What are the goals of the project?

The project involves field work for 6 months. I will rent the field station in the area of concentration of snow geese and survey geese on the specified routes. The survey vehicle will be equipped with a laptop computer running the mapping software and will be interfaced with GPS. Subflock and collar location information can be obtained from existing neck collars and satellite transmitters applied in 2012-13. Four surveys will be conducted over each 7 day period (week) through the end of April, 2014. During these six months, I will give public lectures and presentations, including a presentation at the The Stanwood (WA) Snow Goose Festival in February 2014 and will give public lessons on Fir Island and Port Susan Bay (WA) in autumn, winter and spring 2013-2014.