[TN-Bird] Experimental Canada Geese found in Sullivan Co.

TN-Birders:

Four banded Canada Geese, identified from band numbers read through a spotting 
scope in Northeast Tennessee on Sunday, July 17, have been determined to be 
birds banded by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and relased during 
2004 in southern Iowa.

The band numbers were recorded by Chris O'Bryan and Wallace Coffey at the Weir 
Dam, located just below South Holston Dam, along the South Fork Holston River 
in Sullivan Co., TN.

According to an Iowa Wildlife Department waterfowl biologist, located at the 
state's Clear Lake waterfowl research station,  the birds were released in Iowa 
as part of a cooperative program with the Michigan DNR.  He said they are not 
considered as "normal wild birds" and are looked upon by wildlife researchers 
as experimental birds.

During a three to four year period ending last year,  Michigan was capturing 
2000 to 3000 birds each year and delivering them by truck to Iowa for release.  
Michigan biologists were banding the birds to see if they would imprint on the 
Iowa release area and not return to Michigan.  It is a study dealing with the 
overflowing urban goose population.  Iowa, not having large metro areas, has a 
capacity to take birds.  While that project was discontinued last year,  about 
400 Canada Geese were captured by the state of Minnesota and released in Iowa 
this year.

The birds seen in Tennessee were known to be at least one year of age or more 
(after-hatching-year) when released June 17, 2004 at Lake Rathbun near Madison 
Creek, in southern Iowa.  The sex of the birds were not known.

When last seen at the South Holston Weir Dam, the four banded geese were 
approximately 650 miles ESE of their Iowa release area (measured by GPS).

They were keeping company with a flock of about 25-30 Canada Geese and were 
grazing and resting on the recreation area walkways near picnic tables.  None 
of the birds were alarmed by the close presence of humans.

Thanks to state ornithologist Mike Roedel of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources 
Agency at Nashville and Mary Gustafson, Bird Banding Laboratory, USGS, Laurel 
MD, for timely help with the recovery data for the geese.

Members of the Bristol Bird Club have kept a database of Canada Geese which 
have been found in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia dating back to 1985.  
We have nearly 1,000 sightings on record.

When the band numbers at the South Holston Weir did not match previous band 
numbers in our database, we sent the info to Roedel to see if the TWRA had 
banded them.  Finding no information on file for Tennessee, he sent the band 
numbers to Gustafson at the federal Bird Banding Laboratory.  She supplied the 
original data.

Thanks to everyone.....

Let's go birding.....

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN

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