This winter's bad weather killed a lot of geese, saving the CCA and Tom Gentz from having to kill their young.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Each year, Charlestown Town Council Boss Tom Gentz has tried to drum up volunteers to go out into the salt ponds and destroy the eggs of Canadian Geese to keep their numbers down and prevent them from "fouling" the ponds. This year, it looks like Nature (and climate change) did it for him.
PROVIDENCE - The Department of
Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has been receiving
reports of bird mortality events throughout the state, primarily involving
Canada geese. Wildlife biologists from the Division have inspected the dead
geese at several locations and attributed the deaths to malnutrition as a
result of the severe winter.
The mortalities appeared to have been spread out
over time. Snow and ice covered and preserved most of the carcasses during the
winter months, but now that the snow and ice are melting the carcasses are
becoming visible. Also, in shoreline areas, tidal movements have been pushing
those carcasses ashore. The Division has also received reports of eagles and
coyotes as well as other mammalian predators and scavengers feeding on the
exposed carcasses.
During winter, Canada geese traditionally feed by grazing in agricultural fields or in shallow waters. However, with significant snow and ice cover, geese are unable to forage in fields and in shallow waters.
During winter, Canada geese traditionally feed by grazing in agricultural fields or in shallow waters. However, with significant snow and ice cover, geese are unable to forage in fields and in shallow waters.
During these times, geese spend a majority of their time on the open waters of coastal ponds and estuaries where they utilize fat and muscle reserves to survive. This winter prolonged snow and ice cover prevented geese and other waterfowl from feeding, and in some areas pushed geese beyond the duration of what their bodies could sustain without food.
The lack of available
food, coupled with depleted internal reserves, led to small-scale localized
morality events in many shoreline areas across the state. As snow and ice cover
melts, traditional food sources become available, enabling geese and other
birds to replenish their internal reserves
The Division encourages the public to report any birds that have metal bands on their legs. Individuals are asked to take note of the band number and report it to the United States Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory by calling 1-800-327-BAND (2263), or by logging onto www.reportband.gov. Biologists utilize bird bands for various research projects that inform conservation and management of the species.
For further information contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at the Great Swamp Field Office in West Kingston at 789-0281.
The Division encourages the public to report any birds that have metal bands on their legs. Individuals are asked to take note of the band number and report it to the United States Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory by calling 1-800-327-BAND (2263), or by logging onto www.reportband.gov. Biologists utilize bird bands for various research projects that inform conservation and management of the species.
For further information contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at the Great Swamp Field Office in West Kingston at 789-0281.
