[wisb] Re: Cackling Goose and Merlin Questions
- From: Ryan Brady <ryanbrady10@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <richter@xxxxxxxx>, <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2010 07:57:37 -0600
Tom, my apologies if I am misinterpreting what you wrote but it sounds as if
your personal definition of the species "Cackling Goose" is limited to the far
western "minima" subspecies. However, a Cackling Goose as currently defined by
the American Ornithologists Union includes this subspecies AND three other
subspecies. Among these other subspecies is "hutchinsii," or the Richardson's
race, which as you know occurs rather commonly in Wisconsin during fall
migration. So while the birds in my photos are not the minima subspecies, they
are indeed the species now recognized as Cackling Goose.
Am I missing something?
Ryan Brady
Washburn, Bayfield County, WI
http://www.pbase.com/rbrady
> From: richter@xxxxxxxx
> To: vbirdman@xxxxxxx; wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [wisb] Re: Cackling Goose and Merlin Questions
> Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:38:20 +0000
>
> It seems like we go through this Cackling Goose question ever autumn! If your
> goose is not about the size of a drake mallard it is not a Cackling. Typical
> Cackling is a dark breasted, Western species that should occur here rarely.
> In Wisconsin we have at least five documented sizes, races, of Canada Geese.
> The smallest ones as pictured in Ryan's photos are the same size as the
> Western Cackling. However these birds are coming out of James and Hudson Bay,
> hence their lighter breasts. To my knowledge, no genetic work has been done
> on this population to explore their relationship to Canada or Cackling geese.
> For the most part everyone is calling them "Cackling". Many birders are
> calling any smaller Canada Goose a Cackling. There are three more small to
> medium races between Cackling and our resident "Giant" Canada Geese.
>
> As for Richardson's, or Prairie Merlins, they are uncommon to rare in autumn
> migration along Green Bay. They usually occur in late September and early
> October, and all that we have trapped have been immature. Anywhere from one
> to four birds annually. The first Prairie I ever handled was down at Cedar
> Grove back in 1969. They have definitely increased in numbers. The eastern
> Merlins have also increased dramatically from the DDT era of a being a rare
> breeder to an uncommon city one. In eastern Wisconsin we have had birds at
> Townsend, Marinette, Peshtigo, Oconto, Kewaunee with several other nesting
> sites along Lake Michigan in Door county. The initial protection given Crows
> which allowed them to increase and move into cities has provided many nest
> structures for Merlin use. The interesting Merlins are the jet black ones,
> black as the western "Suckleyi". Dark, almost black Merlins breed in BC
> Canada and in the east along the Labrador coast. One wonders where those
> birds are from,
> or if we have another dark population, closer?
>
> Tom Erdman
> Green Bay
> -----Original Message-----
> From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Vic Berardi
> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 7:58 PM
> To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [wisb] Re: Cackling Goose and Merlin Questions
>
> To add further to the Merlin question concerning frequency of Prairie Merlin
> in WI, Ryan's percentage also holds true for northeastern Illinois where the
> Illinois Beach State Park Hawk Watch is located. From 2000-2010 we've counted
> 3966 Merlin of which 4 were deemed to be Prairie/Richardson's with one well
> photographed.
>
> Vic Berardi
> VBirdman@xxxxxxx
> Gurnee, IL
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ryan Brady <ryanbrady10@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tom Schultz <trschultz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; schaufenbuel@xxxxxxxxxxx;
> wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 2:34 pm
> Subject: [wisb] Re: Cackling Goose and Merlin Questions
>
>
> I also meant to concur that 99% of the Merlins in Wisconsin are
> columbarius/taiga Merlins. I've seen hundreds if not thousands of Merlins
> here
> in northern Wisconsin and have only been able to identify two individuals of
> the
> Prairie/Richardson's race. Both individuals are digiscoped at
> http://www.pbase.com/rbrady/prairiemerlin
>
> Fall migration is likely the best time to find a Prairie Merlin in Wisconsin,
> although they are known to breed just across the border in the Twin Cities.
> Hawk Ridge in Duluth tallies a just a few individuals each autumn.
>
>
> Ryan Brady
> Washburn, Bayfield County, WI
> http://www.pbase.com/rbrady
>
>
>
>
> > From: ryanbrady10@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > To: trschultz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx; schaufenbuel@xxxxxxxxxxx;
> > wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [wisb] Re: Cackling Goose and Merlin Questions
> > Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:11:00 -0600
> >
> > Here are some photos from here on Chequamegon Bay that demonstrate the
> > great
> variability in breast color, presence of white "collar," and other features
> of
> Cackling Geese. The first two images show all Cackling while the third has a
> few
> Canadas mixed in.
> >
> > http://www.pbase.com/rbrady/image/128945330
> > http://www.pbase.com/rbrady/image/128945333
> > http://www.pbase.com/rbrady/image/128945336
> >
> >
> > Ryan Brady
> > Washburn, Bayfield County, WI
> > http://www.pbase.com/rbrady
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > From: trschultz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > To: schaufenbuel@xxxxxxxxxxx; wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [wisb] Re: Cackling Goose and Merlin Questions
> > > Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:37:04 -0500
> > >
> > > Joe asks some good questions, and I would agree that the ID of Cackling
> > > Geese is not always easy/straightforward. Even though written several
> > > years
> > > ago, Sibley's summary page can be very helpful in sorting out the
> > > taxonomy
> > > and ID issues:
> > >
> > > http://www.sibleyguides.com/2007/07/identification-of-cackling-and-canada-goose
> > >
> > > I feel that very small-sized "Canada" geese in our area -- those about
> > > Mallard size -- are highly likely to be Cackling Geese. In my experience,
> > > the short necks and stubby bill proportions on these tiny geese typically
> > > correspond, therefore confirming the ID -- but these features can also
> > > vary
> > > somewhat between individuals. I think that the Cackling Geese in our area
> > > have breasts shades that are somewhat variable -- and not usually
> > > noticeably
>
> > > much darker than other Canadas.
> > >
> > > I would also agree that "prairie" Merlins (subspecies richardsoni) are
> > > much
> > > less frequent here in WI than are "eastern forest" birds (columbarius). I
> > > believe that the "prairie" Merlin race is less migratory.
> > >
> > > Tom Schultz
> > > Green Lake Co.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --------------------------------------------------
> > > From: "Schaufenbuel" <schaufenbuel@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 8:56 PM
> > > To: <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Subject: [wisb] Cackling Goose and Merlin Questions
> > >
> > > > Once again Stevens Point hosts "mini-Canada-type Geese" not much bigger
> > > > than a Mallard and half the length of the the "Giant" Canada Goose and a
> > > > third smaller than the "Interior" or "Lesser" Canada Goose. These birds
> > > > are easily picked out in family groups and appear harassed by the bigger
> > > > Canada-types. However they are not classic Cackling Geese lacking the
> > > > dark breast, short neck, stubby bill and evident white collar. They do
> > > > have skinny necks and smaller, but not tiny, bills. Now are these just
> > > > extremely small Arctic nesting Canada Geese or are these these the
> > > > "Richardson's/Hutchinson's" Cackling Goose?
> > > >
> > > > Right now there are six of these little guys on the fountain pool just
> > > > south of Best Buy off Highway HH & I-39. Typically, I find one to six
> > > > of these minis each year. A few years back though, there was a day when
> > > > a larger number passed through.
> > > >
> > > > And on the topic of Merlin populations, I've have found one "Prairie"
> > > > Merlin in Wisconsin out of the thirty or so I've seen. Are my low
> > > > number of encounters from this Population typical, at least, in Central
> > > > Wisconsin?
> > > >
> > > > Joe Schaufenbuel
> > > > Stevens Point,
> > > > Portage Co., WI
> > > > ####################
> > > > You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin
> > > > Birding Network (Wisbirdn).
> > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> > > > //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> > > > To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> > > > //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> > > > Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > ####################
> > > You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin
> > > Birding
> Network (Wisbirdn).
> > > To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> > > To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> > > Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > ####################
> > You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding
> Network (Wisbirdn).
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> > To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> > Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.
> >
> >
>
> ####################
> You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding
> Network (Wisbirdn).
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.
>
>
>
>
> ####################
> You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding
> Network (Wisbirdn).
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.
>
>
> ####################
> You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding
> Network (Wisbirdn).
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
> Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.
>
>
####################
You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding
Network (Wisbirdn).
To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
//www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
//www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn.
Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.
Other related posts:
