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Subject:

Cackling Geese subspecies

From:

Phil Davis

Reply-To:

Phil Davis

Date:

Sat, 2 Dec 2006 15:36:23 -0500

June / Gail / et al.

No Cackling Goose records have been formally submitted or accepted as 
an unusual specific subspecies for our region. All reports and 
records to date, were either not separated as to subspecies or are 
presumed to be Richardson's (B. h. hutchinsii), with the following notes:

1. One accepted record (MD/2004-044) of up to four birds at Little 
Seneca Reservoir in Jan-Feb 2003 includes a comment that one could 
possibly be a B. h. taverneri (one half of the former "Lesser" Canada 
Goose complex), but the record was reviewed and accepted at the 
species level, not at the subspecies level.

2. Another report (MD/2004-045), still under review, of two birds 
from Centennial Lake in Mar 2003, includes a comment of "possible" minima.

The problem is that prior to the AOU split of Canada and Cackling 
Goose, not too many people cared or were looking for other forms of 
"cackling" geese and most earlier reports were sight records. Now 
people know they are different, but documenting a subspecies other 
than Richardson's is a bit of a challenge. Good photos or detailed 
sketches will be very helpful.

I think Bob Ringler may be aware of one other possible non-Richardson's report.

We are very interested in any reports of non-Richardson's Cackling 
Geese in the region.

Hope this helps ...

Thanks.

Phil

PS. A side note ... I have seen a minima in Maryland ... and also 
Bar-headed Geese, in addition to Barnacles. A community pond in 
Davidsonville, near me used to host a captive (pinioned) collection 
of a few unusual geese. Unfortunately, the owner/caretaker either 
moved or passed away and the collection no longer exists. One year, 
if the Annapolis CBC had reported Bar-headed Geese to the National 
Audubon Society, we would have had the high count in the nation, of 
two birds ... the published high that year was one bird from a CBC in Texas!



At 09:01 12/01/2006, June Tveekrem wrote:
>I think Gail meant to send this to the entire list, but it went only 
>to me instead...
>June Tveekrem
>
>-------- Original Message --------
>Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Summary of goose ID responses
>Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2006 8:40 AM
>From: Gail B. Mackiernan <>
>To: June Tveekrem <>
>
>Could someone (Phil, that's probably you...) confirm -- haven't all 
>the Cackling-type geese recorded in Maryland been "Richardson's 
>Geese" ("hutchinsii")?
>
>Several years ago Barry and I found a "minima" Cackling Goose at 
>Belle Haven Marina (which is in Virginia, but close to MD waters) -- 
>this bird was photographed by Jonathan Alderfer. This is the 
>smallest, darkest race of Cackling. The general consensus was that 
>the ID was correct but as that this form is well-represented in 
>captivity (it is amazingly cute) and as  there are almost no records 
>indicating it routinely disperses to the east from its breeding 
>grounds in Western Alasjka (although can be found in California in 
>winter),  the Belle Haven bird was more than likely an escape.

===================================================
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
===================================================