SNOW GOOSE POPULATIONS
All snow geese nest in the arctic, principally in North America. They migrate
to wintering grounds in the southern United States and Mexico. Two snow
goose subspecies are known: the greater snow goose weighs from six to almost
eight pounds; the lesser snow goose weighs from five to almost seven pounds.
Ross' geese, another arctic nesting North American species, are similar
to snow geese but much smaller - less than four pounds.
Most snow geese and Ross' geese are white with black wing tips. Lesser
snow geese occur in two color phases - white and "blue." White
and blue-phase birds are simply genetic variations within the same species,
just like yellow and black Labrador retrievers. Greater snows occur only
in the white phase.
Five distinct populations of snow geese have been identified for management
purposes: Mid-Continent, Greater Snow Goose, West Central Flyway, Western
Canadian Arctic, and Wrangel Island populations. Management of each population
is guided by plans created through cooperative efforts of the flyway councils,
representing states, provinces, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian
Wildlife Service. Management plans provide guidelines for population size,
distribution and use (hunting, viewing, photography, etc.).
The birds that migrate through North Dakota are part of the Mid-Continent
Population. These geese nest from the southern shores of Baffin Island,
to South Hampton Island, along the western portions of Hudson By and west
across the northern coast and islands of Canada to about the 100th meridian.
They migrate south along Hudson Bay and stage in the prairie regions of
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Dakotas each fall. Wintering grounds are
principally in Texas, Louisiana, and eastern Mexico, but some birds winter
as far north as Kansas. Blue geese are found only in the Mid-Continent
Population.
The West Central Flyway and Western Canadian Arctic populations share the
same nesting grounds. These birds winter from Colorado and California in
the north, south to Mexico. The Wrangel Island Population nests off the
northeast coast of Siberia, Russia and winters in Oregon and northern California.
The Greater Snow Goose Population nests in extreme northeastern North America,
on the northern parts of Baffin Island and other areas. They migrate south
to stage on the St. Lawrence River and winter in Atlantic Flyway states.
Ross' geese are found in both the Mid-Continent and the two western snow
goose populations.
All snow geese that fly through North Dakota each spring and fall are part
of the Mid-Continent Populations. Much of our discussion will concentrate
on these birds.
However, much of what follows also applied to other snow goose populations.
Only the Wrangel Island birds are not increasing steadily.
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