Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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WHISTLING-DUCK, GEESE, SWANS

Canada Goose  Branta canadensis

WINTER:  Abundant to Very Abundant Resident.  See Remarks section for CBC data, Mid-Winter Aerial Survey data and high counts.

SUMMER:  Very Common Resident.  Edeburn et al. (1960) did not list this species as occurring in summer and Kiff et al. (1986) considered it a common resident.  Since introduction at McClintic WMA in 1954 (Donnelly 1962) and Green Bottom WMA in 1979 (Dotson 1982) the Canada Goose can now be found throughout most of our area in summer.  It is often a nuisance on golf courses and in residential areas.  See Remarks section.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Data from Kyger Creek Power Plant indicates migration occurs in February and March (Slack 1978).  See Remarks section.

 Fall:  Edeburn et al. (1960) and Slack (1978) indicate fall migrants occurring in October and November.  See Remarks section..

REMARKS:

Establishment of Resident Flock:  Ten birds, obtained from Horseshoe Lake Public Hunting Area, Illinois, in cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, were introduced at McClintic WMA in 1954.  During the next four year period, several pairs (from Indiana) and 20 birds (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) were introduced at McClintic WMA.  The state of Illinois provided an additional 24 young birds for release at McClintic WMA in 1959.  The first nesting occurred at McClintic WMA in 1956.  In 1978 and 1979, 339 and 405 respectively, were introduced along tributaries of the Kanawha River and Ohio River in Cabell, Putnam, and Wayne Counties, WV (Donnelly 1962, Dotson 1985, Ruckel No Date).  For a statewide perspective of the introduction of  Canada Geese in West Virginia and Ohio, respectively, see Hall (1983) and Peterjohn (2001).

Winter:  By the late 1960's and into the mid 1970's from 300 to 400 were often recorded at McClintic WMA and on the Mason Co., WV CBC (WA, HS, Mason Co. WV CBC data).  From the late 1970's into the 1990's high counts ranged between 500 to 600 (Allegheny Vistas Group, WA, HS).  In recent years high counts of 766 on the Ona, WV CBC and 613 on the Huntington, WV CBC have been recorded.

Migration:  Edeburn et al. (1960) considered the Canada Goose as an Uncommon spring migrant and Fairly Common fall migrant.  Kiff et al. (1986) considered the Canada Goose as a Very Common spring migrant and Abundant fall migrant.  Since establishment of the resident population, the separation of migrants and dispersal of the increasing resident population, in spring and fall, has complicated the true status of abundance for migrants, which may well lie between the two aforementioned extremes. 

Breeding Bird Survey (Koch 1974): McClintic WMA, Mason Co., WV (29 May 1971): 50 Stops, 12.25 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 4. Total Birds: 25..

Nesting:  Adults with young are found by mid April, with 10 and 11 April the earliest (HS, unpublished data). 

Banding Data:  Of 1,826 banded Canada Geese found dead or shot, 1.6% represent migrants (Steve Wilson, WVDNR, personal correspondence).

Smaller-bodied forms:  See Cackling Goose on Hypothetical List.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 46% of Counts.  Total Birds: 3,727.  Range: 1 to 613.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 94% of Counts.  Total Birds: 3,276.  Range: 2 to 385.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 68% of Counts.  Total Birds: 4,853.  Range: 2 to 766.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 1.2.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 9.3.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 2.7.

MID-WINTER AERIAL SURVEY (WVDNR)
OHIO RIVER, POINT PLEASANT TO HUNTINGTON, WV

13 January 1989:      364.  03 January 1990:  309.  02 January 1991:     423.  07 January 1992:     583.  04 January 1993:  329.
10 January 1994.:  1,069.  03 January 1995:  961.  03 January 1996:  1,424.  06 January 1997:     757.  05 January 1998:  901.
04 January 1999:      762.  05 January 2000:  612.  02 January 2001:     541.  07 January 2002:  1,144.  06 January 2003:  490.
05 January 2005:   2,054.  03 January 2005:  265.