![]() ![]() albifrons on its wintering grounds in the Netherlands and northern Germany, where we gathered 17 years of observation data on foraging flocks and tracked 13 complete families with GPS transmitters. ![]() We focus on family size dynamics of the Greater White-fronted Goose Anser a. However, how the association of juvenile geese with their parents in families influences the migration timing and space-use of populations, as well as the events leading to juvenile independence are not well understood. Of these, the family and flock structure of geese Anserini are among the better known. Such a wide geographical range means their overwintering habitat differs pretty significantly, but their habitats tend to be open and moist.Many bird populations are made up of social units with differences in size and social status. Once breeding and molting are complete, Snow Geese begin a southward migration that takes them thousands of miles to their overwintering grounds in several separate regions of southwestern Canada, Western, midcontinental, and Eastern USA, and in Mexico further to the south. Their breeding sites are generally located on relatively flat, grassy terrain near water bodies such as streams, ponds, and lakes. Snow Geese spend the breeding season in various breeding colonies located from Siberia in the West, across Alaska, and Canada, and as far as Greenland in the east. Read on to learn more about these areas: Breeding grounds Snow Geese migrate between their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic and sub-arctic tundra and their overwintering grounds in the United States and Mexico. North Carolina: December to early January.North Dakota: March to April, October to November.Read on to learn when you might spot Snow Geese in your area: Western Population Migratory Snow Geese are grouped into western, mid-continent, and eastern populations. Due to the different climatic conditions at each site, the timing of arrival and departure naturally varies between the different populations as well. There are several breeding grounds in the north of the Snow Goose distribution and several overwintering grounds in the United States and Mexico. Their return trip to their overwintering grounds begins in early fall and ends in early winter. The exact dates of arrival and departure do vary year to year for these reasons, but Snow Geese usually begin their spring migration by mid to late winter and arrive at their breeding grounds by the end of spring. The birds must molt after breeding and are unable to fly until their new feathers have grown out. ![]() Their northward migration is triggered by rising temperatures and they do not lay their eggs until the ice has thawed in their breeding grounds. The timing of Snow Goose migration is highly dependent on weather conditions. Read along to learn more about where, why, and when Snow Geese migrate. ![]() They escape the extreme northern winter by making their way south along major flyways to spend the winter in the relatively mild climate of the Lower 48 states. At such high latitudes, the summer is short-lived, however, and the birds must head south because they cannot survive the coming harsh winter. The tundra of the far north provides rich foraging grounds and a relatively safe place for these birds to raise their family of 2 to 6 goslings. Once breeding is complete, the birds molt and then begin a long migration that takes them as far south as Central Mexico. They time their arrival to coincide with the melting snow and thawing ice. Snow Geese migrate to the Arctic and subarctic zone of North America, as well as marginal areas of neighboring Russia and Greenland to breed each year. But where do these birds go each year? Why do they migrate at all? Many American birdwatchers will be familiar with the sight of these white and black birds flying high overhead on their annual migration, even if they do not usually see them at ground level. The Snow Goose ( Anser caerulescens) is an abundant migratory waterbird that visits the United States every winter. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |