Hi Jeff,
 I don't know if we missed the "big flight" yet but just wanted to add that one evening over the last weekend (Friday or Saturday night I think) I was out in our back yard, roaming along the fenceline at dusk, hoping for woodcocks in the field next door. It was a warm evening late in the week (should've written this down). Anyway, around dusk I began hearing the distinct sound of Canada Geese in flight. I finally located the flock, coming from the west and heading basically SE (from my location in Woodbine). I was struck by the huge number of birds in the "flock", easily 2-3000 birds, and I remember thinking this is the largest flock of geese I've ever seen in one flock, in the air. After that there were several smaller regular sized flocks too, heading the same way, but nothing as spectacular as that flock. Don't know where they were headed. I often see flocks here heading east, going to Piney Run Reservoir (I assume).

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD


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







-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Shenot <>
To: 
Sent: Wed, Feb 23, 2011 7:19 pm
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 
ere (Jug Bay and nearby Patuxent River areas) have left, although I don't 
ecall anyone mentioning this.  I did see one big high-flying V of them on 
riday, and think they were headed north.  But that was the only one I saw this 
eek.  Although I don't read every post, I read most, but I don't recall anyone 
entioning it elsewhere.  Usually when the Canada Goose Spring flight begins to 
appen, there are several posts made commenting on it, as it is unmistakeable 
hen you see it.
Earlier this year I heard from a goose hunting guide, who told me this winter 
ue to the sustained harsh weather we had ("we" meaning essentially from here 
orth, along the Atlantic), that many of the resident Canada geese in New 
ngland (non-migrants) were forced to migrate to the south (and came down here 
o the mid-Atlantic).  I guess this is not common, and basically would be an 
rruption due to weather, if it in fact happened to a significant extent.  We 
ertainly had a prolonged cold spell here, which sustained a major shortage of 
hallow open water areas for resting and feeding, so the puddle duck numbers 
ere noticeably low for much of this winter.   The person I talked to is very 
nowledgeable about waterfowl, so I took his word that some considerable level 
f this happened this winter.  I think it became evident sometime in early 
anuary, and I did notice a "pulse" of birds that seemed to appear at one point 
his winter, but I forget when exactly (sometime between late December and early 
anuary I think).
Has anyone else noticed a lack of  of Canada's now?  Did we miss the spring 
light?  Did birds disperse elsewhere gradually to the point that somehow we 
idn't notice?  Am I just imagining this?!!!
Regards-
eff
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