Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 19:17:13 -0800 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Kevin Graff Subject: Snow Geese In-Reply-To: <003801c3efc9$d9198860$1b62a3d1@oemcomputer> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hi all, Sorry for the delay. A lot of stuff to do at home. Bob Ringler ask me to describe the differ between Greater & lesser Snow Goose. Well it is hard to tell them apart. After years of studing of waterfowl at the Baltimore Zoo (1990-1995), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (1997), Horsehead (1998 to present) I studied carefully with Snow Geese along atlantic coast and along our bay. The "Greater" Snow Goose is identical with "Lesser" Snow Goose but is generaly larger, heavier, chunkier bird, with thicker neck and larger head and bill. Positive identification is difficult but I believe the only way to tell them apart is to look carefully at its bill. At the base of the bill called culmen meaning the upper ridge or profile of the bill; measured in a straight line from the first forehead feather to the tip of the bill. The way I can see, the "Lesser" has a nearly straight line from forehead to tip of bill and the "Greater" with straight line from tip of bill to the nostril and from there to forehead was a large lump like a ridge but bigger. Both description of the bills was on upper mandible. Since then, "Greater" Snow Geese was abundant along Mid-Atlantic Coast mainly near atlantic shoreline. Since late 1800's, "Lesser" Snow Goose was most abundant along Gulf Coast and in the west, and sometimes to Maryland on our bay on Delmarva side. Over the years, "Lesser" Snow Goose increasing wintering to Blackwater and many other nearby refuge from Kent County to Somerset County. Back in 1995 while visited my family in Delaware, some "Lesser" Snow was seen with "Greater" few times along atlantic shoreline along with Blue Goose. Some "Lesser" was identified well with "Greater" in Worcester last month. Most of Blue form of Snow Goose was seen mostly with "Lesser." If you see any Blue Goose with Snow Geese somewhere in Worcester County, looks for the size in bill also I believe the "Greater" is about an inch or so taller than "Lesser." This may be a challange for anyone. It is tough for me too. I don't know if this is helpful. Kevin Graff Jarrettsville, MD & Ocean City, MD ocean_city2001@yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================