Canada Geese of Talbot County started bailing out during the week of Feb 13,
and have been gradually leaving day by day since then. They made a quite
big move on the day when strong winds from the SW were present. One
morning, possibly the 16th, I watched an early morning flock of a couple
hundred lift up and form its 'vee' and then keep going higher on a straight
north path.
On Feb 21st I made it a point to scan many of the fields NW of Easton in
Talbot County and found around 8000 birds still present, scattered is
thirteen separate flocks. I would estimate that this was about one-fourth
of the number that were here on Feb 1st.
Les Roslund
Talbot County
Easton, MD
_____
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jeff Shenot
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 7:20 PM
To:
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Lack of geese lately?; musing on the winter
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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