Movements and Habitat Use by Temperate-Nesting Canada Geese During the Postbreeding Period in Southern Québec

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Individual behavior that reduces vulnerability to predation can affect population dynamics of animals. Temperatenesting Canada Geese (Branta canadensis maxima) have increased steadily throughout the Atlantic flyway and have become a nuisance in some parts of their range. The objective of our study was to describe movements and habitat use during the postbreeding period of Canada Geese recently established in southern Québec. More specifically, we wanted to determine whether geese were using areas where hunting was allowed to assess the potential of harvest to control the number of geese. We tracked a sample of geese fitted with radio or conventional alphanumeric collars throughout the fall in three zones characterized by different habitats and hunting pressure. Before the hunting season, geese left the breeding area where hunting was allowed to reach suburban areas where firearm discharge was prohibited or hunters' numbers were low. These postbreeding movements occurred when juveniles were approximately three months old. We observed few local movements among zones once migrant geese from northern breeding populations reached the study area. Radio-collared geese used mainly natural habitats (75.4 ± 2.6%), followed by urban (14.4 ± 2.7%), and agricultural habitats (10.3 ± 0.8%). They were located 73.8 ± 6.2% of the time in areas where hunting was prohibited. Geese that attended their juveniles during brood rearing were more prone to use areas where firearm discharge was restricted than geese that had abandoned or lost their brood. This study shows that under the prevailing regulations, the potential of hunting to manage the increasing breeding population of Canada Geese in southern Québec is limited.RÉSUMÉ. Le comportement que les individus adoptent pour réduire leur vulnérabilité face à la prédation peut affecter la dynamique des populations. La population résidente de Bernaches du Canada (Branta canadensis maxima) a considérablement augmenté dans le corridor de migration de l'Atlantique, à un point tel qu'elles sont devenues nuisibles à certains endroits. L'objectif de notre étude était de décrire les déplacements et l'utilisation des milieux durant la période post-reproductive des Bernaches du Canada récemment établies dans le sud du Québec. Afin d'évaluer le potentiel de la chasse pour contrôler le nombre de bernaches, nous voulions déterminer si les bernaches utilisaient les zones dans lesquelles la chasse est permise. Au cours de l'automne, nous avons suivi des bernaches munies d'un collier avec émetteur ou d'un collier conventionnel alphanumérique dans trois zones caractérisées par différents habitats et pressions de chasse. Bien avant l'ouverture de la chasse, les bernaches ont délaissé le secteur où elles avaient niché et qui était accessible aux chasseurs pour se déplacer vers des sites périurbains où les chasseurs étaient peu nombreux ou encore absents en raison de l'interdiction de décharger des armes à feu. Ces déplacements post-reproductifs se sont effectués lorsque les jeunes étaient âgés ...

Factors influencing survival of Canada geese breeding in Southern Quebec

“…Most recoveries occurred in southern Quebec, but only a quarter of the tags came from the banding area. The decline in the numbers of bird recoveries in Quebec throughout the fall coincided with the departure of geese as observed by Beaumont et al (), who reported that radio‐marked birds left the area between 9 October and 19 December. Distribution of band recoveries in December and January indicated that many birds winter along the eastern coast of the United States, with noticeable concentrations on Long Island, New York, a distance of >500 km.…”

“…With a preponderance of 2-year-old birds in our adult recoveries, many younger non-breeding adults and those unaccompanied by young were more likely to be killed by hunters. In our study area, Beaumont et al (2013) found that females that have abandoned or lost their brood were more often located in areas where hunting was allowed, whereas females with young were more often observed in no-hunting areas. The spatial distribution of yearlings and non-breeding or failed breeding adults may thus increase their susceptibility to hunting and decrease their survival.…”

“…Canada geese that hatched in southern Quebec had a survival rate during their first year (0.82) higher or comparable to other TNCG populations (0.52–0.82; Johnson and Castelli , Lawrence et al , Coluccy et al ) indicating that the fall migration that extends over 500–800 km may not affect survival negatively. On the other hand, the use by family groups of areas where hunting is prohibited (Beaumont et al ) may enhance juvenile survival.…”

“…Canada geese that hatched in southern Quebec had a survival rate during their first year (0.82) higher or comparable to other TNCG populations (0.52-0.82; Johnson and Castelli 1998, Lawrence et al 1998, Coluccy et al 2004 indicating that the fall migration that extends over 500-800 km may not affect survival negatively. On the other hand, the use by family groups of areas where hunting is prohibited (Beaumont et al 2013) may enhance juvenile survival. Our survival estimate for yearlings (0.76) was higher than the 0.65 reported by Coluccy et al (2004) for giant Canada geese in Missouri, whereas our estimate for adults (0.82) was higher or similar to what has been reported for other TNCG populations (0.66-0.85; Johnson and Castelli 1998, Lawrence et al 1998, Coluccy et al 2004.…”

Rearing conditions of greylag geese affect habitat choice throughout life

“…Instead, it would be advisable to diversify crops and reduce field size, as these are less preferential to geese (Rosin et al 2012). Lastly, it would be beneficial to continue disturbance when improved pastures are abandoned, as the combination of previously fertilized fields and the lack of disturbance is in itself advantageous (Madsen and Fox 1995, Bos and Stahl 2003, Beaumont et al 2013. Knowledge of foraging differences between rearing conditions offers a tool box for managing goose populations.…”