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Subject:

Lack of geese lately?; musing on the winter

From:

Jeff Shenot

Reply-To:

Jeff Shenot

Date:

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:19:46 -0500

Within the last week or so, I noticed that the majority of Canada Geese around here (Jug Bay and nearby Patuxent River areas) have left, although I don't recall anyone mentioning this.  I did see one big high-flying V of them on Friday, and think they were headed north.  But that was the only one I saw this week.  Although I don't read every post, I read most, but I don't recall anyone mentioning it elsewhere.  Usually when the Canada Goose Spring flight begins to happen, there are several posts made commenting on it, as it is unmistakeable when you see it.

Earlier this year I heard from a goose hunting guide, who told me this winter due to the sustained harsh weather we had ("we" meaning essentially from here north, along the Atlantic), that many of the resident Canada geese in New England (non-migrants) were forced to migrate to the south (and came down here to the mid-Atlantic).  I guess this is not common, and basically would be an irruption due to weather, if it in fact happened to a significant extent.  We certainly had a prolonged cold spell here, which sustained a major shortage of shallow open water areas for resting and feeding, so the puddle duck numbers were noticeably low for much of this winter.   The person I talked to is very knowledgeable about waterfowl, so I took his word that some considerable level of this happened this winter.  I think it became evident sometime in early January, and I did notice a "pulse" of birds that seemed to appear at one point this winter, but I forget when exactly (sometime between late December and early January I think).

Has anyone else noticed a lack of  of Canada's now?  Did we miss the spring flight?  Did birds disperse elsewhere gradually to the point that somehow we didn't notice?  Am I just imagining this?!!!

Regards-
Jeff

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