1. Conservation of the Greater White-fronted Goose By: Doty McQuerry

2. Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Anser Species: albifrons –Anser albifrons

3. Other Common Names White-fronted Goose Specklebelly Goose Speck Specklebelly Brant Laughing Goose Harlequin Brant Gray Brant Pied Brant Prairie Brant Spectacled Brant Yellow Legged Goose Timber Goose Gray Wavey

4. Physical Description Base of bill and forehead are white Gray-brown body Black speckles on belly Orange legs and feet Pinkish to orange bill White flanks, rump, and undertail Dark tail has white tip Dark eyes Thin white stripe along side Feathers on back are dark with tan tips

5. Size Medium-sized goose –Length: 64-81 cm (25-32 inches) –Wingspan: 135 cm (53 inches) –Weight: 68.87-116.88 ounces (4.30-7.31 pounds)

6. Sex Differences Males and females look alike, with male only slightly larger

7. Adult versus Immature Immature geese –Slightly smaller –Lighter color –Lacking white forehead coloring –Lacking black belly marks –Light pinkish bill –Yellow-orange legs and feet

8. Subspecies Four subspecies recognized by American Ornithologist’s Union –Eurasian White-fronted Goose –Greenland White-fronted Goose –Pacific White-fronted Goose –Tule White-fronted Goose

9. Habitat Prefers aquatic habitat –Freshwater coastal marsh swamps and pools Breeds – tundra wetlands Winters – marshes, bays, lakes, agricultural fields

10. Diet They eat corn, barley, rice, wheat, sorghum, grasses, herbs, sedges, bulrushes, acorns, berries, insects, and mollusks.

11. Breeding Courting ceremony –Calling – both sexes –Head dipping –Neck forward –Fluttering of neck feathers Mates from May to June Monogamous pair bonds at 2 years old and breed at 3 years old

12. Nesting and Young Nest in shallow depression on ground Nest lined with feathers, grass, and down Clutch size of 1 – 8 white/tan eggs Female sits on eggs for 3 ½ weeks Male stands guard Young at hatching: –covered in down –eyes open –led to water within 24 hours – can swim and feed

13. Range Summers – breeds in Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland Winters – coastal British Columbia to California, in New Mexico, Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana; rare on east coast or the interior U.S.

14. Range Map

15. Major Threats Over-harvesting Predators (eat eggs): foxes, jaegers, and gulls Flooding of nests Aircraft disturbance

16. Populations and Management Global status: Common Populations increasing Pacific population declined in 1970’s and 1980’s due to heavy harvesting, but has been recovering Tule subspecies – Vulnerable –Low population size –Restricted distribution Greenland subspecies – Vulnerable –Over-harvesting

17. The End Any Questions?