[TN-Bird] Experimental Canada Geese found in Sullivan Co.
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "TN-birds" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:57:52 -0400
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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