Snow geese are familiar birds in Pennsylvania, where they pass during their spring and fall migrations to and from the arctic breeding grounds. But, there's much more to the large white waterfowl than their large numbers in migration. Here are some things you may not know about the birds, even if you've been to Middle Creek to witness the spectacle. Compiled by Marcus Schneck, mschneck pennlive. Dan Gleiter dgleiter pennlive. Big, big numbers. Around the population of had ebbed to less than 3, birds, but during the 20th century and into the 21st century the population exploded as snow geese began taking advantage of farm crops, including waste grain, along migration routes and in wintering areas.
In some areas, populations have increased as much as 9 percent per year. Biologists estimate that there are 15 million lesser snow geese, 1. Hunting, the primary management tool, removes as many as a half-million per year.
More blue phase. It is primarily the greater snow goose that winters in Pennsylvania. As the range of the lesser snow goose expands, however, blue phase geese are being seen more frequently on Pennsylvania wintering grounds. En route to the arctic. The snow geese being seen in Pennsylvania now are on their way north to the arctic and subarctic, where they will breed during the coming spring and summer, before migrating south once again the fall.
They winter along the Atlantic Coast and along inland waters. Heavy feeders. Snow geese are voracious feeders, devouring large amounts of vegetation daily. In winter, they feed hours per day. In spring, when building up fat reserves for migration, they may feed more than 12 hours daily. The defecation rate is highest when a goose is grubbing for rhizomes, because such food is very high in fiber and the goose inevitably swallows mud. Lighter than you might think.
The snow goose is a medium-sized goose, inches long with a wingspread of about 54 inches. However, like most birds, its looks heavier than its actual weight of 3. Males are slightly heavier than females. A chatty bird.
Chicks can swim and eat on their own within 24 hours, but families remain together through the young's first winter. Families can be identified as groups during both the southern and northern migrations. In , snow geese had become so rare in the eastern United States that hunting of the species was banned. Since that time, the birds have made a remarkable comeback. Today, though hunting has been reinstated, populations are thriving.
In fact, the birds have become so numerous in places that they threaten to destroy their own habitat. All rights reserved. Common Name: Snow Goose. Scientific Name: Anser caerulescens. Type: Birds. Diet: Herbivore.
Group Name: Flock. Size: 27 to 33 inches; wingspan: 4. Weight: 3. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. Least concern. Least Concern Extinct. Current Population Trend: Increasing. Feeds on seeds, leaves, and roots of many species of wild grasses, also of sedges, bulrushes, horsetail, others. Very young goslings may feed on insect larvae. In fall, may eat many berries. Winter flocks often feed on waste grain in agricultural fields.
May mate for life. Usually first breeds at age of 3 years. In one courtship display, male and female face each other and stretch necks upward rapidly and repeatedly in unison. Often nests in colonies. Nest site selected by female usually on slight ridge or hummock, with good visibility. Same site may be used more than one season.
Nest built by female, mostly after first egg is laid is shallow depression filled with bulky bowl of plant material, lined with down. Learn more about these drawings. Migrates long distances, in flocks, often flying very high. In many regions the Snows migrate along rather narrow corridors, with traditional stopover points en route. Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases.
The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.
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