Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Cackling Geese in Maryland - more

From:

Phil Davis

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sun, 1 Aug 2004 00:50:44 -0400

MD Osprey:

FYI. I located the following article in the Maryland Birdlife archives ...
I then cross-referenced the first specimen date cited to the US Museum of
Natural History (Smithsonian) database and have determined that the
Cambridge specimen is USNM #529435 (a reported immature male). The USNM
database does not classify any of the MD or DC Canada Goose specimens into
subspecies at this time. I'll go back and pull the earlier Maryland
Birdlife citations.

I have not italicized scientific names.

Phil


Maryland Birdlife 23(2):45. (June 1967 issue)

BRANTA CANADESIS HUTCHINSII IN MARYLAND

by Jan G. Reese

Two specimens of the sub-species Branta canadensis hutchinsii were
collected in Maryland during the 1966 -1977 waterfowl hunting season.
Both specimens were killed by hunters on the Choptank River. Branta
canadensis hutchinsii is commonly called Richardson's Goose or Hutchins'
Goose and is only about one-half the size of the locally predominant
races of the Canada Goose, B. c. canadensis and B. c. interior. The
Richardson's Goose normally winters along the Gulf coast, west of the
Mississippi River. Although the plumages of most races of the Canada
Goose are very similar, the small size of these specimens plus their
culmen, tarsus, and wing chord measurements indicated that they belong
to the race, B. c. hutchinsii. One specimen was taken west of
Cambridge, Dorchester County, on November 16, 1966. It was an immature
male and was in the company of individuals of the larger races. It was
prepared as a study skin and is now in the bird collections of the U. S.
National Museum. Washington, D. C. The second specimen was taken near
Oxford, Talbot County, on January 7, 1967. It was also in the company
of birds of the larger races and was prepared as a mounted specimen
which is presently in the possession of a taxidermist.

During December 1966 and January and February 1967, five Talbot
County residents reported seeing abnormally small Canada Geese among
flocks of larger Canada Geese. Some of these reports came from fairly
reputable bird observers but others I would have to record as hypo-
thetical since I did not see any of these birds myself, and those who
did failed to record any specific dates. These five sightings,
coupled with the two specimens, might indicate that the Richardson's
Goose winters in the Chesapeake Bay more commonly than realized or that
the winter of 1966-1967 brought a rare influx of them from their normal
wintering range.

Six previous Maryland observations of the Richardson's Goose,
recorded in Maryland Birdlife are as follows: On October 29, 1950
Seth Low and Jane Tuttrap observed one Hutchin's Goose in a flock of
29 Canada Geese at Triadelphia Reservoir (Vol. 6~55); two pint-sized
individuals believed to represent the small arctic race hutchinsii
were studied on Miles River Neck, Talbot County, in company with 2
captive birds of that race on Jan. 1, 1961, by Charles M. Buchanan,
Miss Edith Adkins and Mrs. George Barner (Vol. 17:57); single small
geese that are presumed to belong to this same race were seen in Unity,
Montgomery County, through the winter by Seth H. Low and at Heine's
Pond near Berlin, Worcester County, on March 31, 1961 by J. Weske and
Robert F. MacLachlan (Vol. 17:57); small Canada Geese (probably of the
race hutchinsii) were noted at Remington Farms, Kent County, on Oct. 5,
1961 (1 bird, Clark Webster) and in Talbot County on Nov. 23, 1961 (5
birds, Jan Reese) (Vol. 18:11).


===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]

MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
===================================================