Abstracts

Presented by Ryan Askren - Email: raskren2@illinois.edu

Temperate-breeding Canada goose (Branta canadensis) abundances have increased while wintering distributions of both subarctic- and temperate-breeding Canada geese have shifted northward. Abundances of geese remaining north of traditional wintering areas and in urban areas has resulted in decreased hunting opportunities further south. These shifts are likely due to a combination of changing climate and adaptation to urban areas that provide necessary resources and safety during mild winters. However, severe weather events may push geese from these urban refugia to huntable areas, leading to increased harvest and hunter opportunity. Our goal is to better understand resources that facilitate wintering in urban areas and weather conditions that force geese from these areas by examining southward departure of Canada geese marked in the Chicago and Toronto Areas. We transmitter-marked 153 Canada geese in the Chicago and Toronto Areas between 2014 2018 and tracked geese until death or transmitter failure. We determined dates and weather conditions relative to departure of transmittered Canada geese from urban areas. We recorded 26 departures the Chicago Area (n = 132 birds/seasons) and 28 departures from the Toronto Area (n = 56). Mean departure was 13 January 22.3 days from the Chicago Area and 7 January 18.2 days from the Toronto Area. Minimum daily temperatures on days of departure were similar between Toronto and Chicago Areas (-11.41 C 10.34, -12.62 C 9.79 respectively). We are continuing to model the effects of weather, breeding status, and resource use in urban areas on southward departure. Examining the relationship between urban land uses, weather, and winter departure can improve management of goose abundances and harvest.