Steve, here's the story behind the AR Barnacle Goose, from a post on the AR list. Nick Anich Ashland, WI Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:30:44 -0600 Reply-To: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sender: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> From: joeneal <joeneal@xxxxxxxx> Subject: Barnacle Goose accepted for first Arkansas record Comments: cc: "Beall, Bill" <billtoka@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Chapman, David" <dchapman@xxxxxxxx>, "Doster, Robert" <calcarius@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "James, Douglas A." <djames@xxxxxxxx>, "Kellner, Chris" <ckellner@xxxxxxx>, "Krementz, David" <krementz@xxxxxxxx> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp="Yes"; format="flowed" Content-Disposition: inline The Arkansas Audubon Society's Bird Records Committee has been engaged in an extensive and interesting discussion about the Barnacle Goose initially found by Kenny and LaDonna Nichols on 27 December 2010, at Pine Bluff, and tallied for the Pine Bluff CBC by Rob Doster on the following day. The committee has settled on acceptance for a first state record. There has never been doubt that the ID as a Barnacle was correct. But without evidence that it was a wild bird, it proved difficult to accept as a first for the state. However, several lines of evidence pushed in the direction of acceptance. 1. Observers didn't see anything in the bird's appearance or behavior suggesting it was escaped from domestication. 2. It was associated with Cackling Geese. It is thought Barnacle Goose is derived from Cackling, so this would be logical. Cacklers breed across northern Canada and it may be the Barnacle strayed from typical migration and linked up with the Cacklers. 3. At the time of this record, there were an estimated 15,000 Ross's Geese that had migrated into the same area occupied by the Cacklers and the Barnacle. Kenny Nichols viewed neck collars on 3 Ross's Geese. The report he received from USGS shows they were banded in NE Canada, not so far from Greenland where Barnacles occur. This information suggests this goose may have gone west instead of east (the typical migration direction for Barnacles in winter) with Cacklers. All of this was part of a significant movement of geese as illustrated by the huge flock of Ross's Geese; we know where at least where 3 of these birds were banded. As Kenny Nichols wrote on February 7, 2011, about the ongoing discussion within the BRC, ?If the Barnacle Goose had been seen in Russellville with the Canadas for two years, if it had been seen on a farm pond with a bunch of domestics, or if it were seen anywhere in the state at a time outside of the "winter season", we wouldn't be having this discussion. Instead, it was with what were obviously wild birds that had migrated a great distance to winter here. So, in a sense, it was "acting wild". Cackling Geese and Snow Geese both nest on Greenland just as Barnacle Geese do so, I don't think it's such a stretch to think that this bird might be wild. It's difficult and usually impossible to prove the negative: that this bird for certain is not escaped from captivity. However, it is the conclusion of the BRC that the exceptional movement of geese into central Arkansas included a wild Barnacle Goose. -- JOSEPH C. NEAL in Fayetteville, Arkansas Subject: no sighting, question ? From: "Steve Thiessen" <stevethiessen AT charter.net> Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 20:50:14 -0500 Reading the American Birds CBC issue, I noticed that Arkansas had their first Barnacle Goose record. In the back, it doesn't say escape. I didn't think that any were countable. Although the northeast coast is ok. We've learned that there is no sure way to tell. But they should be the questionable. So what's the records commitees take on this issue. I know a number of Barnacle Geese have been seen in the wild in Wisconsin, over the years. Thanks, Steve Thiessen Stoughton Dane co. #################### 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