Cackling Goose Banding Report 2016

Summary Report- 18 Nov 2016

Cackling Goose Banding Project on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 2016

BRYAN L. DANIELS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 346, Bethel, AK 99559, USA. J. MICHELE KUTER, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 346, Bethel, AK 99559, USA.

ABSTRACT: Banding drives for the cackling goose have occurred on the Yukon Delta NWR since the 1980’s. In 2016, a crew of fourteen USFWS, MBM, and ANSEP personnel came together for the family group cackling goose banding effort from 19-28 July along the Kashunuk River. This time period targets flightless (molting adults, unfledged goslings) cackling geese for the purpose of marking birds via leg bands to track population trends and harvest rates. No effort was made to capture failed/non-breeders, typically conducted in early July along the Aknerkochik River. Contrary to previous years, all species of goose captured were banded in 2016 due to an impending increase of hunting pressure for the emperor goose, specifically. Five (5) capture attempts resulted in a banding total of 288 cackling geese, 25 greater white-fronted, and 3 emperor geese. Most drives averaged 35 minutes to process 25 birds; one drive yielding 215 individuals required almost 3 hours to process. No extraneous data or samples were collected or obtained for this project in 2016.

(Data Submitted to BBL September 20, 2016; Report Completed October 25, 2016)

Key Words: banding, branta, Cackling goose, goose, hutchinsii, minima, Yukon Delta

Once classified as a subspecies of Canada goose (Branta canadensis) the cackling goose, now Branta hutchinsii, was granted full species status by the American Ornithologists' Union's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature in July 2004. Four subspecies of the cackling goose are recognized based on their distinct geographic breeding ranges (B. h. minima, B.h. tavernii, B. h. leucoparia, and B. h. hutchinsii). While the entire population of minima cackling geese breed along the coastal fringes of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska (King and Lensink 1971), they migrate south across Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest to stage in Washington and winter in the Klamath Basin in Oregon and California (Trost and Harb 1995).

The cackling goose population experienced an alarming decline between 1965 and 1984, likely the result of overharvest by sport hunters in California and subsistence hunters in Alaska (Pacific Flyway Council 1999). Consequently, representatives of management agencies, conservation groups, and hunters from Alaska to California met to discuss critical problems for geese nesting in Western Alaska, and agreed upon harvest restrictions and a conservation plan. This new conservation plan resulted in a rapid increase in cackling goose population size through the late-1990s, followed by a decade of relative stability (Denlinger 2011).

The Pacific Flyway Management Plan for the Cackling [Canada] Goose was implemented in 1986, revised in 1999, and is currently undergoing another revision. Other management plans have been developed including the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Goose Management Plan (USFWS 2005), and Arctic Goose Strategic Plan (AGJV

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2008) to manage cackling geese concurrently with other goose species (greater white-fronted, emperor, and brant) which also breed on the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta.

Best estimates of harvest data are derived from banding data, if reporting rates can be estimated accurately (Afton and Anderson 2001). The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (YDNWR) has conducted banding drives for minima cackling geese (here-after cackling geese) since 1990. Between 1990 and 2011, YDNWR focused on the capture period in early July targeting failed and non-breeding cackling geese. These individuals leave the breeding sites and molt earlier than successful breeders. Banding drives targeting this group is collectively referred to as “early cackling goose banding” and take place along the Aknerkochik River. In 2011, the Refuge began conducting banding drives targeting family groups during late July, when adults are molting and goslings are old enough to endure the stress of capture but are not yet flighted. Banding drives targeting this group is referred to as “late cackler banding” or “cackler family group banding” and takes place along the Kashunuk River.

In 2011, USFWS reviewed analysis procedures that have been used to estimate the fall population size of cackling geese since 1998 and recommended improvements. Based on that review, the Pacific Flyway Council adopted a new interim monitoring method and recommended that USFWS verify the population estimates derived using a mark-resight method. Accordingly, YDNWR participated in this program from 2011-2013.

Since the mark-recapture program ended in 2013, YDNWR worked with the USFWS Migratory Birds Management office in Anchorage, AK to determine cackler banding needs for 2016. According to a guidance email from Julian Fischer in November 2015, banding data is the sole parameter used to estimate harvest rates for cackling geese. Sufficient banding data is needed to be able to evaluate harvest rates and distribution of harvest should cackler numbers become an issue. Otherwise, there is no harvest data for this population. The Pacific Flyway’s management plan is in the process of being revised, and there is an ongoing structured decision making process to sort out management objectives and alternatives. For the 2016 breeding season, MBM recommended to maintain the YDNWR goal of banding 500 cackling geese.

Although past banding efforts collected morphological measurements, blood, feathers, and avian influenza samples, no effort was made to collect ancillary data during the 2016 cackling goose banding project.

STUDY AREA

Capture and marking of flightless family flocks was conducted along the Kashunuk River approximately 20 km SSE of Chevak, AK; base of operations was Old Chevak Field Station, Yukon Delta NWR. Each year, up to 8 capture sites could be utilized for banding cackling goose family groups (Figure 1, Table 1). Four capture sites were selected for 2016: North Kootuk, South Slough, East Onumtuk, and West Onumtuk (Table 2). Total capture area was approximately 11.3 km2.

METHODS

Family flocks of cackling geese congregate within interior portions of coastal marshes of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, which differs from non-breeding/failed breeding geese, who congregate in the sloughs and edges of marshes. Because of this, capture events were timed to take advantage of daytime high tides enabling boat access in the upper reaches of tidal sloughs and the interior portions of marshes. Outboard motorboats were

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necessary to transport field personnel to designated locations and to act as a deterrent at sites bordered by long stretches of river. Corral traps were oriented so that geese were pushed from the interior marsh toward the capture pen located near a main slough or river (Figure 2A &2C).

Trap setup: The capture pen and lead nets (collectively referred to as a ‘funnel trap’ or ‘corral trap’) were typically set up one day prior to a banding drive, to minimize disturbance and reduce the chance of localized redistribution. The open-top capture pen area was circular in shape (6 m diameter) and consisted of flexible modified rocket-net netting (1.5 m wide) with 2.5 cm mesh held up by T-shaped fiberglass poles (2.5 cm width, 2 m length) placed every 1.8 m (Figure 2B). A 1m to 2m wide entrance for the capture pen was positioned at the convergence of the two lead nets.

The two lead nets consisted of a series of segments made of flexible 1.2m wide netting with 1 cm mesh held up vertically by T-shaped fiberglass poles (1 cm width, 2 m length) every 1.8 m. For ease of set-up, each segment was carefully rolled up with the poles attached when a trap is disassembled, which allowed for easy tangle-free unrolling during set up. Leads extended 400-800 m on either side of the capture pen entrance, running perpendicular to one another acting as a funnel into the capture pen; one lead always ran parallel to the river or a large slough (Figure 2A). The bottom edge of the leads and the corral trap were secured to the ground using 23 cm plastic tent stakes to prevent birds from escaping under the nets. No top cover net was required as birds are captured during their molting (adults) and near-fledgling (gosling) plumage phase and are flightless.

Capture: Two boats were utilized to drop off field personnel at strategic locations along the perimeter (within the angle of the lead nets) of the capture site where they remained hidden, still, and silent until everyone was in place at their designated start point. Each member was equipped with a radio capable of ground–ground communication, which was necessary to adjust coordinated movements over long distances throughout the drive.

When all personnel were in place, encircling an area of 1.6 to 4.6 km2, the capture drive was initiated by personnel standing up and walking toward the capture pen, starting with the crew members stationed farthest from the capture pen. An arced drive-line spanning the capture site was maintained with other personnel joining the drive-line as geese were pushed towards the capture pen and encouraging the birds stay within the lead lines until the drive line reached the actual leads (Figure 2A).

Once the geese were inside the capture pen, the entrance was closed off with overlapped capture pen netting. A separate soft mesh holding pen (12 m in diameter, 1.5 m high with no top covering the pen) was erected from the closest lead net segments (Figure 2C). As the late cackling goose drives target family groups, the separate holding pen is utilized by placing processed birds into the holding pen to give time for family groups to reform prior to mass release.

Processing captured birds: Each drive required the following roles to process captured birds: 2 crew members in the capture pen to catch birds; 2 runners transferring a bird from the capture pen to a sexer; 2 age/sexers to determine the age and sex; 2 banders to apply a metal band to the right leg; 1 stringer who would remove the appropriate band from its string to hand to the bander; 2 data recorders; 2 runners to transfer banded birds to the holding pen. Any crew members not involved with one of these duties would engage in other

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activities including taking photos, breaking down the leads, addressing unexpected obstacles, and assisting with any of the pre-determined roles.

Cackling, emperor, and white-fronted geese were then removed individually for processing. Age and sex were determined for each bird based on plumage and cloacal inspection (Hochbaum 1942, Hanson 1949). Cackling and white-fronted geese were banded with size 7A and 7B USGS aluminum leg bands, respectively; emperor geese received size 7B stainless steel leg bands.

If capture numbers exceeded 50 individuals, each banded bird was placed in a holding pen to allow family groups to reform prior to release. The capture pen was removed and all birds released after the last bird was processed. Birds were released immediately after processing if capture totals were less than 25 individuals to reduce stress of holding birds while still allowing family groups to reform after release due to short processing times.

Data recorded include date, capture site, band number, bander, species, age, sex, band size, recapture or not, and comments. An effort was made to record GPS coordinates (decimal degrees) for the center of corral trap, and times for begin drive, begin processing, and end of processing. Data were entered and proofed in Excel in the field as a backup for raw data and for ease of transfer to BANDIT. Upon return to Bethel, banding data were imported into BANDIT and submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory.

Non-target species were removed from the capture pen and were individually released before processing of cackling geese proceeded. Non-target birds were not banded in order to minimize holding and processing times.

RESULTS

A field crew of fourteen was deployed to Old Chevak field station from 19-28 July, 2016. Trapping efforts spanned from 21-26 July with drives occurring on 22, 24, 25, and 26 July. Weather allowed the second North Kootuk site to be prepared on 23 July, but prevented any active drives due to wet vegetation that would endanger goslings.

Banding: A total of 288 cackling geese, 25 greater white-fronted geese, and 3 emperor geese, were banded during five banding drives conducted at four capture sites along the Kashunuk River from July 19-28, 2016 (Table 3). South Slough (Drive 3) was the most productive location with a total of 215 total birds banded: 196 cackling, 16 greater white-fronted, and 3 emperor geese. Processing time for South Slough was 2 hours and 50 minutes (Table 4). The remaining drives yielded a combined total of 101 banded birds, including 9 white- fronted geese. Emperor geese were banded only at South Slough (n=3), while white-fronted geese were captured at North Kootuk-2 (n=8), South Slough (n=16), and West Onumtuk (n=1). Processing times ranged from 22 to 170 minutes.

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge staff banded 288 cackling geese, falling short of the 500 cackling goose banding goal. All except one drive had low capture numbers due to a number of factors. During the first drive, for example, many birds escaped between personnel due to large water bodies that allowed geese to evade personnel and backtrack between people. Personnel witnessed 100+ geese escaping due to large ponds.

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The second drive was the same plot, but a smaller portion of the plot, trying to exclude some of the water bodies. This drive caught more birds, but we hypothesize that many of the birds had left the plot from our drive the previous day.

The third and largest drive worked perfectly, since the plot itself had minimal large water bodies where geese could elude personnel, and was perfect size for the number of personnel present.

The forth drive went smoothly as well, there were less geese present on the overall plot.

The final drive of the field season only captured 13 cackling geese. We attribute this to dense fog which made it difficult to coordinate personnel, allowed the geese to escape between personnel undetected, and birds to not run as readily from personnel. The fog likely negatively impacted the total number of birds captured.

Non-target/by-catch: One local sandhill crane and 2 adult tundra swans were removed from the South Slough capture pen. These were the only non-target unbanded captures in 2016.

Recaptures: No previously banded birds were recaptured during 2016 cackling goose banding.

Mortality: One local cackling goose expired while being released during the first drive at North Kootuk. Cause of death was unknown. The carcass was disposed of on site.

DISCUSSION

The weather during family group cackling goose banding can be irregular. Being in a coastal zone, wind, fog, and rain are likely, and can affect trapping procedures. Wet vegetation from fog/mist on 23 July, 2016 impeded any drives from occurring. Driving geese through wet vegetation can cause feathers to become wet and lose their insulating capabilities, causing hypothermia.

Inclement weather also decreases visibility for researchers during goose drives. On 26 July, 2016, foggy conditions existed, but the vegetation was deemed dry enough to proceed with a drive. Even though all personnel were outfitted with ground-ground radios for communication, coordinating the drive was very difficult. Due to limited visibility, people were dropped at improper locations by boats, personnel couldn’t see each other to maintain proper distances and walk speeds, and these conditions resulted in an uncoordinated drive. It is recommended to not attempt drives when such limited visibility exists, even if birds will not be affected by vegetative moisture.

Due to the tide cycle and weather, staff was limited to 1 drive per day, except on 24 July, 2016 when 2 drives were possible. Unfortunately accurate tide cycles are not available for that region, therefore researchers cannot pre-plan drives, and must determine when tides will permit drives upon arriving into the field.

Processing times averaged 1.5 minutes/bird, which is quick considering how many people they were passed amongst. We believe that we utilized the fastest methods to process birds, since everyone had one job and were not trying to juggle multiple responsibilities.

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The average number of geese banded by the refuge every year during early cackler banding has been ~315 geese (table 5), falling below the banding goal. In order to capture more birds and reach the minimum banding goal, a few possibilities exist. The first possibility is to increase the number of days banding in the field, and increase the number of banding drives.

The second possibility is to work with the black brant field crew at Tutakoke, and band the cackling geese captured during those drives. This will need fewer refuge staff (3-4), and the same amount of days, but at a different field camp. The third possibility, and most costly option is to utilize a helicopter, smaller crew size (3) to target family groups, which allows more smaller drives per day, but tides will no longer be a factor. Weather still plays a role in all three of these alternate options.

COOPERATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Funding to band cackling geese is provided by the Division of Migratory Bird Management (MBM) out of Anchorage. MBM pays the refuge to band a minimum number of cackling geese set by the Pacific flyway council.

MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS:

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge is the only location cackling geese (Branat hutchinsii minima) are being banded. Banding cackling geese is important to maintain a banded population for hunter data use.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to our beloved expeditor, camp chef, and field crew member Katie Bowerman, without whom this project would have suffered untold setbacks and upset stomachs. Kyle Spragens provided vital knowledge, leadership, and a happy disposition. Robert Sundown provided airplane support for cargo and personnel transport. Finally, this project would not have been possible without the following outstanding field personnel:

Mark Agimuk, YDNWR David Phillips, YDNWR David Thurchek, YDNWR Chris Tulik, YDNWR Kristine Sowl, YDNWR James Sauerwein, YDNWR Elliott Hoffman, YDNWR Josh Klejka, YDNWR Randall Friendly, ANSEP Alison Williams, USFWS MBM

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LITERATURE CITED

Afton, A.D. and A.G. Anderson. 2001. Declining Scaup Populations: A Retrospective Analysis of Long-Term Population and Harvest Survey Data. The Journal of Wildlife Management 65(4):781-796.

Arctic Goose Joint Venture Technical Committee (AGJV). 2008. Arctic Goose Joint Venture Strategic Plan: 2008 – 2012. Unpubl. Rept. [c/o AGJV Coordination Office, CWS, Edmonton, Alberta]. 112pp.

Denlinger, L. 2011. Cackling Canada Goose Mark-resight Project on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Unpubl. Rept. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management, Waterfowl Management Branch, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA. October 2011.

Hanson, H.C. 1949. Methods to determine age in Canada geese and other waterfowl. J. Wildl. Manage. 13:177–183.

Hochbaum, H.A. 1942. Sex and age determination of waterfowl by cloacal examination. N. Amer. Wildl. Conf. Trans. 7:299–307.

King, J. G., and C. J. Lensink. 1971. An evaluation of Alaskan habitat for migratory birds. Bur. Sport Fish and Wildlife. Unpub. Rep., U.S.D.I., Washington, D.C.

Pacific Flyway Council. 1999. Pacific Flyway management plan for the cackling Canada goose. Cackling Canada Goose Subcomm., Pacific Flyway Study Comm. [USFWS], Portland, OR. Unpubl. Rept.

Trost, R.E. and L.K. Harb. 1995. Observations of neckbanded cackling Canada geese- progress report - July 1995. Unpubl. Rept. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Office of Migr. Bird Mgmt., Arlington, VA.

USFWS. 2005. Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Goose Management Plan. Unpublished report.

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Table 1. General location and area of cackling geese capture sites on the Kashunik River, July 2016.

Site ID Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Area (km2) Babtuk 61.417435 165.447312 2.4 North Kootuk 61.413181 165.434479 1.6 South Slough 61.351880 165.470695 2.2 East Onumtuk 61.354710 165.445649 3.0 West Onumtuk 61.378936 165.486000 4.5 North Hock Slough* 61.304720 165.539465 4.2 South Hock Slough* 61.304720 165.539465 4.6 * North and South Hock Slough have the same capture pot location, but different trap orientations.

Table 2. Location and area of five corral traps at four capture sites utilized in 2016.

Site ID Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Area (km2) North Kootuk-1* 61.41069 165.43317 1.6 North Kootuk-2* 61.40682 165.43932 1.6 South Slough 61.35181 165.47066 2.2 East Onumtuk 61.35462 165.44545 3.0 West Onumtuk 61.34890 165.48596 4.5 *Corral traps were set up at two separate locations within North Kootuk site.

Table 3. Total birds banded by species, age and sex during YDNWR family group cackling goose banding drives, July 2016.

Species Total Adult - F Adult - M Adult - U Local - F Local - M CACG 288* 39 57 2 89 101 GWFG 25 6 3 0 9 7 EMGO 3 1 1 0 0 1 Total 316 46 61 2 98 109 *1 cackling goose died during release

Table 4. Summary data for each banding drive, July 2016.

Time Begin - Time Time Begin Drive - # CACG # GWFG # EMGO Total # Begin Begin End Drive # Site ID Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Date End Drive Processing End Processing Banded Banded Banded Banded Drive Processing Processing (minutes) (minutes) (minutes) Drive 1 N. Kootuk-1 61.41069 165.43317 22-Jul 13 0 0 13 17:15 18:23 18:45 63 22 85 Drive 2 N. Kootuk-2 61.40682 165.42932 24-Jul 15 8 0 23 7:50 8:30 9:00 40 30 70 Drive 3 S. Slough 61.35181 165.47066 24-Jul 196 16 3 215 19:29 20:30 23:20 61 170 231 Drive 4 E. Onumtuk 61.35462 165.44545 25-Jul 51 0 0 51 17:25 18:30 19:22 65 52 117 Drive 5 W. Onumtuk 61.3489 165.48596 26-Jul 13 1 0 14 7:41 8:30 9:05 49 35 84

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Table 5. Summary of cackling goose banding history on YDNWR from 1990-2010. Compiled from unpublished reports and Gamebirds database.

Year YDNWR USGS Total 1990 285 289 574 1991 376 274 650 1992 235 366 601 1993 284 490 774

1994 342 629 971

1995 129 1183 1312 1996 0 466 466 1997 284 772 1056 1998 313 1058 1371 1999 250 633 883 2000 320 386 706 2001 413 292 705 2002 260 429 689 2003 500 23 523 2004 170 607 777

2005 884 498 1382

2006 235 104 339

2007 594 407 1001 2008 0 557 557 2009 363 372 735 2010 385 356 741 Total 6,622 10,191 16,813 Average 315.3 485.3 800.6

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Figure 1. Cackling goose capture sites along the Kashunuk River. Cross-hairs indicate general location of capture pot for each site.

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A B

C adult holding pen gosling holding pen

(aerial photo credit: USFWS/Karen Bollinger)

capture pen

(aerial photo credit: USFWS/Karen Bollinger)

Figure 2. A) Corral Trap capture effort in progress. Dashed line follows the bottom of the lead nets into the opening of the capture pen. Note orientation of trap away from river; setup used during Late Cackling Goose banding. B) Close-up of capture pen. C) Overview of additional holding pens constructed from lead nets after completion of capture drive; gosling holding pen not constructed in 2016.

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