Vasiliy V. Baranyuk

Researcher.

I'm former Senior Scientist of the Wrangel Island (WI) Nature Reserve, Russia. It is 7,600 km2 of the remotest Arctic wilderness on the planet. Located (North 71˚ W 180˚) between the Chuckchi Sea and East Siberian Sea, it has been said that the only place harder to get to is the moon. This is unique ecosystem with polar bears, walruses, seals, Arctic fox, Arctic wolves, lemmings, snowy owls; and the only breeding population of snow geese in Russia. This wilderness was declared a World Heritage site. I had over 30 years of experience in studying snow geese and I noted the changing the WI ecosystem due to warming Arctic conditions over the past 30 years. These changes impacted the population structure of WI snow geese. The higher total abundance and especially large number of young birds in the population recently has led to distribution shifts on the breeding and wintering grounds. Pioneering of geese into new inland foraging areas on the Pacific Northwest has also become common. The WDFW initiated in 2012-13 a project "Population Assessment, Delineation, and Habitat Use of Wrangel Island Snow Geese". I was involved with the project as a visiting scientist associated with the University of Washington. During 2012-2013 we have marked 500 geese with brown neck collars, including 40 geese with radio and 10 geese with satellite transmitters. We are seeking additional funding to continue this work through the 2013-14 winter field season. Thanks for looking and helping out!

August 2013