Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia
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Snow Goose Chen caerulescens
WINTER: Casual Visitant. Occasional Resident. Most records are from one to six birds. One white and blue cross was present from 27 January to 10 March 1989 at Proctorville, Lawrence Co., OH (photographed, WA). See Remarks section for CBC data, Mid-Winter Aerial Survey data and Winter high counts.
SUMMER: Accidental. One (white phase) from 25 May to 10 June 1987 at Point Pleasant, Mason Co., WV (photographed, WA).
MIGRATION:
Spring: Casual Migrant from early to late March. Late dates, one present from 25 May to 10 June 1987 at Point Pleasant, Mason Co., WV (WA); one on 07 May 1988 at Milton, Cabell Co., WV (WA, AT, LW); 28 April 1988 at Milton, Cabell Co., WV )WA); 27 April 1981 at Milton, Cabell, Co., WV (WA). See Remarks section for high counts.
Fall: Casual Migrant from early October to late November. More records in fall versus spring (Kiff et al. 1986). Early dates, one on 20 (DC) and 23 (WA, MG) September 2011 at Gallipolis Ferry, Mason Co., WV; one on 03 October 1993 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, GR); two on 08 October 1978 at Gavin Power Plant (HS); four on 19 October 1975 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS). See Remarks section for high counts.
REMARKS:
Winter High Counts: 35 (28 blue phase, 7 white phase) on 03 February 2003 (WA) and 20 (13 blue phase, 7 white phase) on 02 and 08 February 2003 (WA, MG, MO) at Byrd Locks & Dam; 14 (4 blue phase, 10 white phase) on 10 January 2007 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA).
Spring High Counts: 14 on 06 March and 18 on 10 March 2003 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA, JB). All other spring records are from 1 to 3 birds.
Fall High Counts: About 1500 on 26 October 1949 near Point Pleasant, Mason Co., WV (Brooks 1950); about 200 (about 10 blue phase) on 12 November 2003 in Mason Co., WV (WA, MG). All other records are from 1 to 6 birds.
While no studies have been done, most records are of white phase versus blue phase birds (excluding the February 2003 records cited in Winter High Counts).
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA
Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001): Recorded on 11% of Counts. Total Birds: 63. Range: 1 to 35.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976): Recorded on 22% of Counts. Total Birds:
9. Range: 1 to 3.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001): Recorded on 18% of Counts. Total Birds: 13. Range: 1 to 6.
Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001): Number of Counts: 61. Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0. Party Hr./Bird: 47.9.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976): Number of Counts: 18. Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0. Party Hr./Bird: 39.2.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001): Number of Counts: 40. Birds/Party Hr:: <1.0. Party Hr./Bird: 139.6.
MID-WINTER AERIAL SURVEY DATA (WVDNR)
OHIO RIVER, POINT PLEASANT TO HUNTINGTON, WV
Recorded (Chen spp.) on 2 surveys from 1989 to 2003: 03 January 1995: 2. 06 January 1997: 2.
Recorded (Snow Goose) on 1 survey from 1989 to 2005: 05 January 2004: 23.