/331 •

Progress Report

on

Restoration of Aleutian Canada

Geese on Agattu Island

1978

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' .•

(

by

Dennis W. Woolington

Daniel R. Yparraguirre

Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Adak, Alaska

ARLIS • Alaska Resources Library & Information Services llnchor~e Aia~ka UBRAR't' • usF\VS ' TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES iii

LIST OF FIGURES iv

INTRODUCTION 1

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2

BACKGROUND 3 STUDY AREA 4 Topography 4 Climate 4 Vegetation 4, 9 Wildlife 9 Release Site 9-10 . :...... METHODS 13 Release Planning 13 Release Stock and Shipment 13-14 Pen Construction 14, 22 ( Camp Activities 22 Weather 22 !· ~ Release Monitoring 22-23 Food consumption . 23 Flock activity level 2J-24 Molt 24-25

~ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 26 Initial Release 26 Social Grouping and Behavior 26-27 Pair Bonds 28 Food Consumption 28-30 Flock Activity Levels 30,35 Daily cycles 30,35 Weekly changes 35-36 Molt 36,38 Post Molt Dispersal 41 Migrational Unrest and Departure 42,45-46 Mortality Factors 46 Accidents 54 Neck collars 54

• ~· i • RECOMMENDATIONS 55-56

LITERATURE CITED 57

APPENDIX

A. Annotated List of Birds Observed at Agattu Island, Alaska 58-62 19 June-14 September 1978. - - : B. Some Suggestions for the 1978 Release of Aleutian Canada 63-69 Geese at Agattu Island, Alaska.

C. Plot Design and Results from 1978 Empetrum Berry Crop 70-73 Monitoring Plot, Agattu Island.

D. Annotated List of Plant Foods Observed Eaten by Aleutian 74-75 Canada Geese on Agattu Island 1978.

E. A Summary of Arctic Fox Removal Efforts on Agattu Island 76 19 June - 14 September 1978.

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•

ii • ( LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1. Agattu weather summary, 25 June-13 September 1978 .• 6

2. Bands and rearing status of geese released on Agattu 15-21 Island 1978. • . . . . • . .•..•. 24 3. Age and rearing class groups of geese released on Agattu 1978 ..•....•••

4. Artificial food consumption. 29

5. Flock activity level - average percent involved per 35 ac ti vi ty by week . . • • . . . . • . . • • . •

6. Approximate timing of first and last individuals within 37 specific age and rearing-Class groups entering period of flightlessness .....•..•••.••.

7. Range and mean time (in days) between onset of flight- 38 lessness and beginning of flight capability .•.... ( 8. Dates of onset of flight capability by age and rearing 40 class. •

9. Final observation of marked individuals of 1978 Agattu release up to 18 September 1978. • • • . • • • . • • • • 47-53

• iii • ( LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1. Near Island Group 5

2. Aga Cove release site and camp 11

3. Goose release pen 12

4. Flock activity level - week of 15-22 July 31

5. Flock activity level - week of 23-29 July 32

6. Flock activity level - week of 30 July-S August. 33

7. Flock activity level- week of 6-12 August ... 34

8. Daily incidence of feathers shed by molting geese on 39 Agattu 1978 ..•..•...... •

9. Use areas (stippled) and lines of flight (arrows) of 43 c geese dispersing from release site - Agattu 1978 . 10. Mean daily flock size of flying geese observed on Agattu 44 19 7 8 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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• iv • ( INTRODUCTION

Aleutian Canada geese (Branta canadensis leucopareia) were released on Agattu in 1978 as a step toward the re-establishment of a breeding population on that island. This is part of a formal recovery program initiated in 1974 to upgrade this subspecies from an endangered status to a more secure population level.

To accomplish this release the authors were employed by the Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge to monitor the released birds from their arrival on Agattu to the fall migrational depar­ ture. The monitoring objectives were:

1) Protection of the released geese from predation.

2) Provision of food as the geese switched from commercial feed to natural foods.

3) Documentation of social interaction between sub groups of the released geese.

4) Recording of time of molt and flight capability. ( 5) Documentation of behavior and dispersal of the free­ flying geese.

6) Documentation of time of fall migration.

7) Evaluation of progress of the release.

This report summarizes our results obtained on Agattu Island in 1978. The evaluation provided will be used to plan and conduct future releases on Agattu and other islands .

• (~ 1 • ( ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Assistant Refuge Managers Tom Early and Kent Hall and Biological Technicians Robert Day, Elaine Rhode and Brian Lawhead were present on Agattu from 19 June to 7 July. They provided much of the energy necessary to unload supplies and geese, set up camp, and construct the goose pens. Their help and friendship are greatly appreciated.

We would like to thank the members of the Aleutian Canada Goose Recovery Team; especially John Martin, Refuge Manager - Aleutian Islands NWR, and Daniel Timm, Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, for their help in pen construction during their visit on 21 June.

The crew members of the R/V Aleutian Tern; Master George Putney, Engineer/Deckhand David Clemens, and Cook Mary Clemens were much more than support personnel. Their suggestions, friendship, and concern for the project and for us are deeply appreciated.

The Questar telescope and 20 X spotting scope used for observa­ tions during the summer was provided by the Wildlife Research Field Station, Arcata California.

A final note of thanks is extended to Biologist Forrest Lee, ( whose dedication to this recovery program and direction of this release project has been a great inspiration to the both of us .

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• ( BACKGROUND

Aleutian Canada geese were once an abundant breeder on Agattu as well as other islands of the Aleutian chain. Turner (1885) reported thousands of these geese in the Near Islands, of which Agattu was one of the primary breeding grounds. Clark (1910) found this goose in great abundance on Agattu "where it breeds by the thousands." Introduction of Arctic fox, Alopex lagopus, on Agattu in 1923 (Gray, 1937) lead to the decline of these birds and is felt to have caused the elimination of Aleutian Canada geese on this island. In 1937 Murie (1959) could find only a few pairs on Agattu.

In 1974 a recovery team for the Aleutian Canada goose was formed. This team drafted a plan on which the recovery of this subspecies was based. The plan consisted of four main parts:

1) Prepare habitat for goose reintroduction.

2) Produce adequate release stock in captivity.

3) Acclimatize and release the birds, and monitor the results. ( 4) Study and protect the wild birds. Agattu was selected as a release site due to historic abundance of geese and that it was believed to have been rendered fox free through removal efforts in the 1960's. In the summer of 1974 a total 'of 41 captive-reared birds and nine wild birds captured at Buldir, were released at Agattu (Byrd~ al 1974). Foxes were discovered on the island at the time of release. Biologists remained until September to monitor the release. Two of the captive reared birds were recovered in northern coastal California and one of the guide birds was recovered in the San Joaquin Valley of California during winter 1974-75 (Springer et al 1978). Several unverified reports of marked birds were received in spring and fall 1975. No further sign of these birds was recorded at Agattu or Buldir.

With the discovery of fox on Agattu in 1974 an eradication program was reinstated that year. Hunting and trapping were conducted yearly from 1974 through 1977. By June 1977, Agattu was felt to be rendered fox free. M-44 cartridges were placed on the island in an effort to remove any undetected fox. During retrieval of the M-44 cartridges in August 1977, evidence of one fox was discovered. Despite the known presence of at least one fox on the island, it was decided to go ahead with the Agattu goose release which had been planned for the summer of • 1978 . 3 • c STUDY AREA

Topography

Agattu Island is the second largest and southernmost of the Near Islands, and is located at 52°26'N. 173°36'E (Fig. 1). It is similar in terrain and vegetation to the other islands in the Aleutians. Agattu is roughly triangular in shape, the north shore is about 19 miles (30.4 kilometers) in length, the southern shoreline is approximately 16 miles (25.6 km) long and the eastern shore is about 11 miles (17.6 km) long. The island encompasses approximately 55,535 acres (22,214 hectares).

The southern-southeastern two-thirds of the island is a rela­ tively flat tableland with numerous shallow lakes and ponds. The north shore of the island is dominated by a mountain range with peaks rising to 2240 feet (672 meters). The hills rise sharply from the north shore and slope gently to the tableland on the south. The 70 miles (112 km) of shoreline consists of sharp bluffs and beaches of boulders, gravel and occasionally sand. The island is further ringed with offshore rocks and sea stacks.

( Climate Agattu, like the rest of the Chain, has a maritime climate typified by overcast skies and frequent cyclonic storms. Tempera­ tures average 38°F (3.3°C) throughout the year, with little s~asonal variation. Summers are characterized by fog and rain, while winters are mild with snow accumulation in the higher altitudes. Weather data for the summer (June - September) of 1978 are presented in Table 1.

Vegetation

The general plant communities of the Aleutian Islands is dis­ cussed by Amundsen (1972) and the following is quoted from Byrd et al (1972) concerning Agattu and uses Amundsen's nomenclature for-­ communities. Scientific names follow the nomenclature of Hulten (1968).

4

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..... ~ .. , ~. ALAID c . i ISLAND '\,). · ~ ; : ' SHEMYA NIZKII,.j •' ~, .. ISLAND

ISLAN~········'] ~ · ' ·.. n

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Figure 1. NEAR ISLAND GROUP

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ALASKA • •

Table 1. Agattu weather summary 25 June - 13 September 1978

Relative Month Temperature (OF) Humidit;z': Preci£itation Mean Percent Mean Wind Max. Min. Mean Range Mean % of days rnm Cloud Cover Speed (mph)

June 58 38 4 7.1 82-100 95.2 83 28 96.5 17.5 (6 days)

July (29 days) 78 44 53.5 74-100* 94.8 39 101 82.6 13.4

August 64 48 53.2 60-100 94.4 70 122 92.1 17.8 (29 days)

September 60 34 49.3 50-100 84.7 46 87 82.6 15.8 (13 days)

1\

* Relative humidity was only calculated for 12 days during July. • ( A narrow beach community occurs around the perimeter of the island. Elymus dominates, but Calamagrostis and Festuca are also present. Closely associated herbaceous plants include: Lathyrus, Honckenya, Mertensia and Senecio. The coastal bluffs are covered with a rank growth of Elymus, Heracleum, Angelica, Ligusticum and Conioselinum. Nowhere does this beach community extend inland more than one hundred yards.

Further inland a lowland tundra occurs. The meadows are dominated largely by Carex, but include a number of herbs including Dactyherhiza, Platanthera, Iris, Claytonia, Viola, Epilobium, Mimulus, Geranium, Trientalis, and Ranunculus. Above the Carex meadows on the drier slopes the heaths are characteristic. Empetrum is the predominant plant of this community, but associated species include lichens, Lycopodium, Loiseleuria, Anemone, Sorbus, Rubus, Geum, Cornus, and Linnaea.

The alpine tundra is dominated by Empetrum, Loiseleuria, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Salix, lichens and mosses. At elevations above 300 feet the ground carpet thins and becomes interspersed with patches of bare rock and gravel. The exposed slopes and ridges support a dwarfed plant community of Cardamine, Draba, Rhodendron, Primula, Campanula and Antennaria. ( ' · Wildlife . Forty-five species of birds were recorded during the summer of 1978, and are listed in Appendix A.

Harbor seals (Phoca Vitulina) were observed in Aga Cove daily after July 1, the maximum number present at one time being 3. The seals were observed feeding on pink salmon (Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha) that began running in the creek behind the ~field camp on 26 July.

Release Site

The 1978 release site is located at Aga Cove in the same Goose Lake area that was used in the 1974 release attempt (Fig. 2).

• 9 • ( Byrd ~ al (1974) provide a good description of the Goose Lake and Goose Valley area. The release pen was constructed southwest of Goose Lake and occupies the floor of Goose Valley. Goose Creek flows the length of the pen. Carex sp. is the predominant plant with various grasses present. Heracleum lanatum, Angelica lucida, and Ranunculus occidentalis are dense on the west end of the pen, especially along the banks of Goose Creek. The vegetation of the slightly higher northeast side of the pen is a mixture of Empetrum nigrum and Carex sp. Several small patches of Arctic willow (Salix arcticus) are present in the pen. A map of the release pen showing vegetation types is provided in Figure 3.

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10 • • Figure 2. Aga Cove release site and camp.

-,..,'=Ff"'fFi""';-:~=-'f=:""\t"'~tT--'-:-"':--'\~~:';-t--=;"'=.~~~,.,..~!"1'-'=~:::r====,~-=- -·--- '

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Figure 3. Goose release pen.

KEY

~ Carex-Umbel b Willow [lJ ·· Einpetrum-Carex ffiill. t Gravel Et Carex Meadow ·-. ILJ. Stream ...... [a Tall-Carex Meadow Feeder N E3

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~.L I.-:""·,. ... - • c METHODS

Release Planning

Methodology of this release was developed by Forrest B. Lee. In this reintroduction, the "gentle release" method was used. This procedure consisted of placing the wing-clipped birds in a spacious open topped pen. The geese had access to running water, natural food items and commercial feed. There, the birds would go through the molt and be able to leave the release pen after attaining flight capability. The objective of this release method was to minimize mortality during the transition period from captive to free-ranging bird, and to better insure good physical condition of the birds as they switched from commercial feed to natural foods. The planning statement of this method is provided in Appendix B.

Release Stock and Shipment

A total of 139 Aleutian Canada geese were released on Agattu during the summer of 1978. Of this number, 117 geese were incubator­ hatched and captive-reared while 22 were wild reared geese from Buldir. The captive-reared birds consisted of 52 one-year old geese raised at the refuge propagation center on Amchitka, and 19 one-year old, 17 two-year old, 18 three-year old, 8 four-year old and 3 five-year old geese raised at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center at Laurel, Maryland. Within this total, nine pairs were present: 17 captive reared adults and one wild bird that had been present at Amchitka since 1976. These pairs had been culled from the Amchitka breeding flock in the hope that they would be success­ ful breeders under wild conditions.

The wild-reared geese were included in the release to act as migrational guides to lead the captive-reared geese on the fall migration. Of these wild birds, 19 were captured at Crescent City, California 1-7 April in cannon netting operations conducted by Warren Rienecker, California Department of Fish and Game, and the authors. Two birds were captured in banding operations at Buldir in summer 1976 and then transferred to Amchitka. One bird, injured in banding operations at Crescent City in spring 1977, was rehabili­ tated at Humboldt State University and shipped to Amchitka in fall 1977 •

• 13 ,...------~------

• ( The Patuxent reared and wild reared geese were shipped to Amchitka in April 1978 and earlier dates for a period of acclima­ tization (in the case of the Patuxent-reared birds) and integra­ tion into the release flock. All the geese were wing-clipped and held in a roofed pen. Prior to transporting to Agattu the birds were banded with monel USFWS leg bands and fitted with 38mm X 19mm Lynnply blue plastic neck collars (see Table 2). On the evening of 17 June the geese were placed, six-to-a-crate, in shipping crates and transferred to the open deck of the refuge vessel R/V Aleutian Tern departing Amchitka at 0100 (BST) 18 June and arriving at Agattu 0700 on 19 June. While in route the geese were provided with heads of lettuce soaked in water.

Pen Construction

Immediately on arrival on Agattu a small pen of approximately 400 square meters was erected behind the camp and the geese were placed within and kept there until the large pen was completed.

Both of these pens were constructed with four foot high poultry wire and five foot steel fence posts. Assistant Refuge Managers Tom Early and Kent Hall and Biological Technicians Bob Day, Elaine Rhode and Brian Lawhead aided in the hauling of materials and pen ( construction.

Construction of the large pen took two days. Fence posts were placed about five meters apart and the fence was connected with standard fence clips. Where the fence crossed Goose Creek and smaller water flows, extra fencing was placed along the bottom. The entire fence was also held down with stakes between the fence posts.

The fence perimeter was measured with a surveyor's tape on 26 July and the area was estimated to be 1.7 hectares (4.3 acres). Because of the uneven contours of the terrain, and thus the fence itself, this estimate is probably low.

Precautions to help keep the pen up over the winter were taken after the birds became flight capable. Additional posts were placed both in and outside the pen at an angle away from the fence. Lines were tied from these posts to the upright posts to keep the fence from falling over should snow drift against it or frost heaving uproot the posts . • 14 ------·---

• ( Table 2. Bands and rearing status of geese released on Agattu Island 1978.

MONEL BAND COLLAR AGE SEX COMMENTS All guide birds, unless otherwise noted, were 997-23501 301 SY M captured at Crescent City in April 1978.

502 302 SY M II II

503 303 SY M II II

504 304 SY M II II

505 305 SY M II II

506 306 SY M II II

507 307 SY M II II

508 308 SY M II II

509 309 SY F II II

510 310 SY F II II l 511 311 SY F II II 512 312 SY M II II

513 313 ASY M II II

.. .. 514 314 ASY M II " 515 315 ASY M II "

516 316 ASY M II II

517 317 ASY F II II

518 318 ASY F II II

519 319 ASY F II II

520 320 ASY M Captured spring 1977 at Crescent City - held Arcata (1976 hatch)

521 321 ASY M Previously banded B/G 12 997-15176 (AHY in 1976) • 522 322 ASY M Previously banded B/G 13 997-15177 (AHY in 1976)

15 ( • YEAR MONEL BAND COLLAR HATCHED SEX COMMENTS

997-23523 323 77 M Amchitka Reared

524 324 77 F II II

525 325 77 M II II

II II ':.'. 1 :t ... ~ :.. · :~ 526 326 77 F

527 327 77 F II II

528 328 77 M II "

529 329 77 M II II

530 330 77 F II II

531 331 77 F II II

532 332 77 F II II

533 333 77 M II II

( 534 334 77 F II II

535 335 77 F II II

536 336 77 F II II

537 337 77 F II II •... ~·~ .:...... ·:· ! 538 338 77 M II II

539 339 77 M " "

540 340 77 F " "

541 341 77 F II II

542 342 77 F II II

543 343 77 F II II

544 344 77 M II II •

16 • ( . YEAR MONEL BAND COLLAR HATCHED SEX COMMENTS

977-23545 345 77 M Amchitka Reared

546 346 77 M II II

547 347 77 M II II ., ;.;:t: 548 348 77 F II II

549 349 77 M II II

550 350 77 F II II

551 351 77 M II II

552 352 77 F II II

553 353 77 F II II

554 354 77 F II II

555 355 77 M II "

c II II 556 356 77 F

557 357 77 F II II

558 358 77 M II II

559 359 77 M II II

560 360 77 F " "

561 361 77 F II II

562 362 77 F II II

563 363 77 M II II

564 364 77 F II II

565 365 77 F II II •

17 • c YEAR MONEL BAND COLLAR HATCHED SEX COMMENTS

9 77-23566 366 77 M Amchitka Reared

567 367 77 M II II

568 368 77 F II II

569 369 77 M II II

570 370 77 F II II

571 371 77 M II II

572 372 77 M II II

573 373 77 M II II

574 374 77 F II II

575 375 77 M Patuxent Reared

5 76 376 77 F II II

( 577 377 77 F II II

578 378 77 F II II

579 379 77 M II II

580 380 77 F II II

581 381 77 M II II

582 382 77 F II II

583 383 77 F II II

584 384 77 M II II

585 385 77 F II II

586 386 77 F II II

587 387 77 F II II • 588 388 77 F II II

18 • c YEAR MONEL BAND COLLAR HATCHED SEX COMMENTS

977-23589 389 77 M Patuxent Reared

590 390 77 F II II

591 391 77 M II II

592 392 77 F II II

593 393 77 M II II

594 394 73 M II II

595 395 76 M II II

596 396 76 M II II

597 397 76 M II II

598 398 76 M II II

599 399 75 M II 11

600 400 75 M II 11

607 407 76 M II 11

608 408 74 M 11 11

609 409 76 F II 11

610 410 76 F II 11

611 411 76 M " II

612 412 76 F 11 11

613 413 76 F II II

614 414 76 M II II

615 415 76 M II II • 19 • c YEAR MONEL BAND COLLAR HATCHED SEX COMMENTS

9 77-23616 416 76 F Patuxent Reared

617 417 75 M II II

618 418 75 M II II

619 419 74 M II II

620 420 74 M II II

621 421 75 M II II 622 422 76 M " " 623 423 76 F II " 624 424 76 M " " 625 425 75 F " II

626 426 75 M II II c 627 427 76 F II " 628 428 75 M II "

629 429 74 F 1977 - 1 sof t egg mate of 1!322 1978 - 4 eggs (1 sof t egg-2 dead embryo-1 norm. gosl.)

630 430 73 1977 - differ ent male mate - no eggs Pa i red 631 431 74 :1 1978 - no eggs 632 432 73 1977 - 1 egg Paired 633 433 74 :~ 1978 -No eggs 634 434 75 1978 - 4 eggs (3 clear - 1 nor mal gos ling) Pai red 635 435 75 :~ 636 436 75 :~ Paired 1978 - No eggs • 637 437 75 • c·· YEAR MONEL BAND COLLAR HATCHED SEX COMMENTS

977-23638 438 75 Paired 1978- No eggs 639 439 75 :~ 640 440 75 Paired 1978 - No eggs ; . 641 441 75 3 642 442 74 Paired 1977 - No eggs 643 443 74 :3 1978 - 5 eggs all clear 644 444 75 Paired 1977 - At Patuxent 645 445 75 :~ 1978 - 9 eggs (2 goslings, 7 dead embryo) ,..

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•

21 • c Approximately ten meter sections of fence were taken out where the fence crossed Goose Creek to keep high water from washing away these sections. The feed shelters were tied to four fence posts and sandbags were placed along the edges. The smaller feed shelters were tied inside the large shelters and sandbags were placed inside them. The galvanized feeders were washed and dried and placed in the attic of the cabin.

Barring any damage to the pen over the winter, it should be ready to have geese placed within it as soon as the sections that were removed from across the creek are replaced. It is also recom­ mended that the posts and lines within the fence itself be removed.

Camp Activities

Investigations were conducted on Agattu from 19 June to 14 September. The camp at Aga Cove consisted of a 10' X 16' trappers cabin and a 14' X 16' framed wall tent. During the summer, new roofing, flooring and windows were installed in the cabin to main­ tain the quarters for present and future field activities. We were supported throughout the summer by the R/V Aleutian Tern which made approximately weekly trips to the island with mail and supplemental supplies. Nightly radio communication with the Aleutian Tern, ( Amchitka and the refuge headquarters at Adak was provided by a RF 2200 single side band radio.

Weather wer-0 Weather data was collected nightly at the camp. Temperature range and rainfall were collected by a Taylor Maximum-Minimum thermometer and a Taylor "see-thru" rain gauge respectively. Rela­ tive humidity was recorded with a Bacharach pocket size sling pschrometer and wind velocity was estimated with the aid of a hand held Dwyer wind gauge. Percent cloud cover, ceiling level, and wind direction were estimated and the average condition for the day was recorded.

Release Monitoring

Monitoring the progress of the release was conducted primarily by direct observation of the geese inside the pen and later, in use

• 22 • ( areas away from the release site. Individual geese were identified by the number coded plastic neck band. A Thermos pup tent was erected above the pen as an observation blind at the release site. Observations were made with a 50-80 X Questar telescope, 20 X spotting scope, and 10 X and 7 X binoculars.

The following is a description of the techniques.

Food consumption - Approximately 2,000 pounds of the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center type maintenance diet brought to Agattu in five gallon plastic buckets. A portion of these buckets were weighed and an average weight per bucket of each type of feed was ascertained.

This prepared food was provided throughout our stay on Agattu. Two feed shelters, similar to the type currently used at the propa­ gation facility on Amchitka, each holding four smaller feeders were placed at opposite ends of the pen. Three of these small feeders held the NPWRC diet while the fourth contained barley.

Food level was checked every two days and the feeders were re­ filled as necessary, the new amount of feed added was calculated in terms of portions of buckets.

Natural food items were identified through direct observation of the birds consuming them and through exami nation of grazed areas. Since various grasses inside the pen were grazed heavily prior to formation of seed heads, grasses on the immediate outside perimeter of the pen were collected for identification as probable food' items.

A permanent empetrum (Empetrum nigrum) berry crop monitoring plot was se t up on a hill north of the pen site. Ten randomly selected 10-meter line transects were run within the 100 meter X 100 meter plot to monitor any yearly changes in the available empretrum berry crop. The plot design and 1978 r esults are provided in Appendix C.

Flock activity level - An attempt to document any behavioral changes that occurred as the geese went through the molt was made from 15 July to 12 August. Five minute counts were made three times an hour of the number of individuals engaged in one of nine activi­ ties at the time of the count. These nine activities were: 1) sleeping 2) preening while standing 3) preening while sitting 4) sitting 5) feeding while standing 6) feeding whi le sitting 7) walking 8) standing or 9) involved in some sort of dominance interaction.

·- 23 • ( During each count an attempt was made to observe each of the 139 geese in the pen, but this was not always possible because of the creek banks and high vegetation.

The percentages used in the graphs are based on the number of birds observed in the activity over 139, or the number of birds in the pen. This leaves a percentage of birds involved in an "unknown" activity, which more truly represents the results of the individual counts.

For this report only three activities are considered: sleeping, preening and feeding. The percentages for preening and feeding include all birds engaged in the activity whether sitting or standing. Daily cycles as well as the changes observed during the four weeks of observation are discussed.

Molt - Systematic searches of the entire pen were conducted daily from 29 June - 28 July to locate any shed primaries and secondaries. The number picked up each day was used to estimate the chronology of the molt for the entire flock. Individual molt status was documented by direct observation of molting feathers, absence of primaries, and subjective estimation of length of growth of the new primaries. Individuals were classed by age and rearing classes to compare any differences in molt or flight attainment (Table 3) • Onset of wing molt for most individuals had to be estimated. Molt sequence was back-dated from a given length of new primary growth using average rates of growth from birds within the same class having known molt initiation dates. As birds became flight capable, a schedule of recording the daily flight status of each bird was ini­ tiated in hope of recording date of first flight for each individual. Although gliding and wind-aided sailing were recorded, true flight, for the purpose of this release, was defined as the bird actually having flown out of the pen.

Table 3. Age and rearing class groups of geese released on Agattu 1978.

Second-year Guide birds After-second-year Guide birds 1977 Amchitka hatch 1977 Patuxent hatch 1976 Patuxent hatch (not paired 1978) 1975 Patuxent or earlier hatch (not paired 1978) Paired birds (no eggs produced 1978) Paired birds (eggs produced 1978)

• 24 • ( Post-molt dispersal - As the geese began moving from the pen, observations were conducted to determine activity in Goose Valley. Lines of flight and flock size were recorded to determine movement away from the release site. Upland areas were searched to determine use areas and group composition of geese utilizing such areas.

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• 25 ~------

• ( RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Initial Release

Geese immediately began to feed, drink and preen after release into the temporary pen on 19 June. The birds appeared to have made the trip from Arnchitka without injury or excessive stress. On 22 June the geese were herded overland to the nearby completed permanent pen. After arrival, most birds went to Goose Creek to drink and then moved as a group along the interior walls of the pen.

Social Grouping and Behavior

The birds tended to segregate by classes and to a lesser extent by age classes. The general social groups identified consisted of:

1. The guide birds (collar #301-321, excluding #322)

2. 1977 Arnchitka hatch (collar #323-374)

3. 1977 Patuxent hatch (collar #375-393)

4. Older Patuxent birds and paired birds (collar #322, 394-400, 408-445)

Up until time of molt the guide birds remained as a tight,group and did not associate with the other geese. Upon any human approach to the release pen, these birds would run along the fence to the corner furthest from the intruder.

The 1977 Amchitka hatched birds associated as a loose unit. Although usually together, individuals or small numbers of this group would associate freely with the other social units of birds. This group was the most vocal of any present in the pen and displayed the most tameness. Within this group, two males (#358 and #363) associated together for the duration of the summer and became highly dominant birds.

The 1977 Patuxent hatched birds appeared to be a relatively fluid social unit during June-July. These birds appeared to mix

• 26 • ( freely with the 1977 Amchitka hatch group and the older unpaired birds. After attainment of flight capability this group appeared to become more cohesive. Birds would travel as a group outside the release pen. Fourteen of the birds apparently disappeared from the island on 31 August.

The older Patuxent birds and the paired birds did not operate as a discrete unit but rather loosely associated in the same general area of the release pen. These birds tended to stay away from the 1977 hatched birds. Two males of this group (#394 and #395) associated together all summer and were very aggressive until halfway through the molt period. A close-knit group of 4 paired birds and two associating males (#322:429, #422:443, #408, and #402) was evident during the summer.

Separation of social units was most evident during the late June-early July period. The guide birds remained as the most discrete group. Although they would tolerate intrusion by other geese, the guide birds did not actively approach groups of the captive-reared birds. The captive-reared birds retained their social units but often many of these birds would gather together as a large intermingled flock.

During mid-July this segregation began to break down. The ( molting birds would gather together as a flock during early morning and late evening feeding on tall Carex in the west end of the pen, and during mid-day sleeping and preening in the empetrum area of the northeast corner of the pen. During the molting period t~e geese became more wary and would run as a flock away from the ap­ proach of the investigators.

Different social units became more evident again as the molt period ended. As birds of a social unit or pair bond became flight capable, the flightless members of that unit would walk the inside of the pen in an apparent effort to retain contact.

As a larger percentage of each group became flight capable the group would range away from the immediate pen site. The groups coalesced during late August as most of the geese attained flight capability. With the onset of fall gregariousness in September, the birds increasingly began acting as a single unit (see Migra­ tional Unrest and Departure). • 27 • ( Pair Bonds

The summer histories of the nine pairs of breeders included in the release are summarized below:

#429:322 Observed together until our departure on 14 Sep. #322 observed by F. Lee on 18 Sep.

#430:431 Observed together until our departure on 14 Sep.

#432:433 Observed together throughout summer. Last observation on 31 Aug.

#434:435 Observed together until departure on 14 Sep.

#436:437 #437 observed copulating with unknown female on 20 June. Pair observed together until departure on 14 Sep.

#438:439 Observed together throughout summer. #438 observed until departure on 14 Sep. #439 last observed 25 Aug.

#440:441 Pair bond severed. #441 observed with #425 (female) throughout summer. #440 last observed 25 Aug. #441 present until departure on 14 Sep.

#442:443 Observed together throughout summer. #442 last observed 2 Sep., #443 present until departure on 14 Sep and observed by F. Lee on 18 Sep.

#444:445 Observed together until last observation of #444 on 23 Aug. #445 present until departure on 14 Sep.

Food Consumption

Ten buckets of maintenance diet weighed an average of 12.72 kilograms (28 pounds). Five buckets of barley weighed an average of 12.54 kilograms (27.6 pounds). Fifty-eight buckets or approxi­ mately 1624 pounds of maintenance diet (commercial feed) and seven buckets or approximately 193 pounds of barley, were consumed. Feed was provided 89 days for a total artificial food consumption rate of 2.4 ounces per bird per day .

• 28 • ( As indicated in Table 4., artificial food consumption reached a peak during mid-August. This corresponds directly with the peak of the molt and new feather development. Although barley was pro­ vided during the first seven weeks, it wasn't until this time that it was readily consumed.

Food needs were estimated by F. B. Lee at the rate of six ounces per bird per day. The difference between the calculated and observed food consumption rates was undoubtably made up by the consumption of natural food items. Artificial food consumption dropped after the birds were on the wing, but the geese were still observed in the feeders daily.

Although the guide birds must have been consuming the NPWRC chow while at Amchitka, they weren't observed in the feed shelters on Agattu until late July. After they gained flight capability, the guide birds were observed in the feeders almost daily.

Table 4. Artificial food consumption

Amount Consumed (lbs)

Commercial Rate Food Barley Total (ounces/bird/day)

June 18-24 161 7 168 3.2 25- 1 147 0 147 2.4 July 2- 8 154 0 154 2.5 ' 9-15 98 0 98 1.6 16-22 112 0 112 1.8 23-29 119 0 119 1.9 August 30- 5 119 14 133 2.1 6-12 231 34 265 4.3 13-19 224 76 300 4.9 20-26 133 35 168 2.7 September 27- 2 1. 3- 9 2. 70 14 84 1.8 10-16 2. 56 14 70 1.5

1. Due to non-use, one of the large feed shelters was closed down on 3 September and the unused food was placed in the other shelter.

2. After early September, 37 geese were not observed in the pen, and therefore aren't considered in the consumption rate .

• 29 • c The geese fed heavily on natural vegetation even though commer­ cial feed was available. Carex Lyngbyaei was a major part of the diet through the summer. The birds grazed on this sedge and uniden­ tified grasses during June-July. As seed heads formed on the Carex in mid-July the birds began stripping them off. Major feeding activities were noted in the early morning and late evening when most of the geese in the pen would be feeding in the tall Carex and umbel vegetation of the west end of the pen. There, the Carex and leaves of Ranunculus occidentalis were heavily grazed and the leaves of Heracleum lanatum were moderately grazed. In early August birds began extensively grubbing for roots of Carex sp., Juncus arcticus, and Plantago macrocarpa. Although this grubbing has been observed on Buldir, it is unknown whether this action represents birds re­ sponding to depleted forage conditions in the pen or was a normal feeding activity. As birds began flying from the pen site they started using the berries of Empetrum nigrum and grazing on small Carex sp. of the upland areas. Although consumption of commercial feed drastically declined at this time, examination of feces in the feeders showed that geese feeding heavily in the uplands returned to the pen for food. An annotated list of plant foods is given in Appendix D.

Flock Activity Levels

Daily Cycles- From the graphs (Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7),two major daily feeding peaks were observed. These major peaks occurred early in the morning and late in the evening during the first three weeks of the study. In addition, a third somewhat smaller peak of feeding occurred in the early afternoon during each of the first three weeks. During the fourth week, 6-12 August, this pattern continues but without the large decreases in the number of birds feeding during the middle of the day.

This type of feeding schedule is expected and although this aspect hasn't been as completely documented in the wild population, it is the same general pattern observed on the wintering grounds.

During this time of decrease in the number of individuals observed feeding, that is mid-day, there was an increase in the number of birds engaged in the more restive activities of sleeping and preening. This is clear during the first three weeks. These two activities are

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Weekly Changes - Table 5. summarizes the changes in the per­ centages of birds observed engaged in the three activities under discussion.

The number of geese observed feeding reached a peak during the third week, 30 July to 5 August, but this does not correspond with the peak of artificial food consumption, which occurred two weeks later, 13-19 August. However, the trend of increasing numbers of birds observed feeding does correspond with the trend of increasing artificial food consumption observed during July (Table 4. Artifi­ cial food consumption).

Table 5. Flock activity level - average percent involved per activity by week.

WEEK FEEDING PREENING SLEEPING

( 15-22 July 28.9 13.2 13.2

23-29 July 33.6 11.6 18.6

30 July-5 August 39.5 8.6 9.8

6-12 August 36.3 7.9 9.2

The number of birds feeding on the NPWRC chow wa s not differ­ entiated from those feeding on vegetation during the counts because the view from the observation blind did not permit seeing clearly into both of the feed shelters.

There is a negative correlation between the number of birds observed preening and the number of feathers picked up during the daily feather pick- up. As the number of feathers picked up increased to the maximum on 14 August, the week of 6-12 August showed the lowest number of preening individuals during the flock activity counts .

• 35 • ( The fourth week of the study, 6-12 August, did not produce the same general shape of daily curves observed during the first three weeks. All three of the curves remained more constant (Figure 8.), but the averaged percentages (Table 5.) were essen­ tially the same as the previous week.

Molt ·. ·.:-, The first evidence of molt was noted on 30 June when three shed secondaries were found inside the pen. The number of molted primaries and secondaries increased until a peak of molting was reached on 14 July. The last bird to become flightless, a second­ year male guide bird, did so on 28 July (Figure 8.).

The onset of flightlessness varied between age and rearing classes. Birds hatched in 1977 at Amchitka and Patuxent reached flightlessness between 2-4 and 24 July. This beginning of the flightless period peaked at approximately 14-16 July for the Amchitka birds and 11-13 July for those from Patuxent. The older birds entered the molt slightly later and displayed more synchrony between members of these groups in becoming flightless. After­ hatching-year guide birds and captive-reared birds were first observed entering the molt 5-9 July. The last birds of these groups to enter the molt did so on 18-21 July. Surprisingly the group dis­ playing the latest onset of molting was the 1977 hatched guide birds, which had members entering the molt from 10 through 28 July (Table 6.).

Length of the period between onset of molting and attainment of flight capability for individuals ranged from 24 to 44 days. The wild-reared geese required the shortest span of time to complete the molt. The second-year guide birds required an average of 28.4 days to reach flight capability, while the after-second-year guide bird group required an average of 30.8 days. The captive-reared birds hatched in 1977, 1976, unpaired birds hatched by 1975 or ear­ lier, and the successful paired birds had means ranging from 34.2 to 34.7 days. The unsuccessful paired birds required a mean of 38.9 days to become flight capable (Table 7.).

Birds were first observe d as being a irborne on 1 August when five different individuals became aloft for short distances a fter • 36 ------• •

Table 6. Approximate timing of first and last individual, within specific age and rearing class group entering period of flightlessness.

SY Guide Birds ~~~~span: 17 days peak: 10-14 July

ASY Guide Birds

1977 Amchitka Hatch 20 days 15 16 July

1977 Patuxent Hatch s July

1976 Hatch

1975 or older Hatch Epar: r: ea~:

Paired Birds s an (no eggs produced) p ak

Paired Birds (eggs produced)

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1415 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2 7 ------

• ( running into the wind. This short distance gliding continued daily and on 9 August true flight capability was recorded when seven individuals flew out of the pen. Between 9 and 12 August individuals from each age and rearing-class group had flown from the pen. By 18 August 63.3 percent of the flock had flown from the pen at least once and by 24 August all birds were flight capable (Table 8.).

The after-second-year guide bird group was the first to become flight capable, having members gaining flight between 9-15 August. The 1976 hatch captive-reared birds were slightly behind in timing having their flight gaining period range from 12 to 18 August. The second-year birds of all rearing classes and the 1975 hatch unpaired birds were very similar in range for individuals reaching flight in these groups ran from 9 to 24 August. However, the 1977 hatched Amchitka birds lagged substancially behind the other groups in at­ taining flight. By 20 August 38.7 percent of the 1977 Amchitka birds had not gained flight capability. The paired geese of both cate­ gories had similar ranges of flight gaining period of from 11 to 22 August.

Table 7. Estimated range and mean time (in days) between onset of flightlessness and beginning of flight capability.

RANGE MEAN

Second- year guide bird 24-37 28.4

After-second-year guide bird 25-35 30.8

1977 Amchitka ha tch 28-42 34.7

1977 Patuxent hatch 28-44 34.4

1976 Hatch (unpaired) 30-40 34.2

1975 or earlier Hatch (unpaired) 32-42 35.1

Paired (successf ul 30-40 34.3

Paired (unsuccessful) 35-44 38.9

38 • \ Figure 8. Daily incidence of feathers shed by molting geese on Agattu, 1978.

340

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• 1 1/ • Table 8. Dates of onset of flight capability by age and rearing c ass.-

Class Date August 1978

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 12 12 12 11 11 7 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 Guide Birds (SY) 3 - 1 0 1 1 5 7 7 7 8 8 9 9 1(} 10 10 11 11 12

Guide Birds (ASY) 9 9 9 5 5 4 2 1 1 0 4 4 5 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 52 52 52 52 1977 Arnchitka Hatch 53 50 50 48 47 47 47 43 35 21 20 11 1 1 0 2 2 4 5 5 5 9 17 31 32 41 51 51 52 19 19 19 1977 Patuxent Eatch 19 9 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 10 17 17 17 17 17 17 T8 18 18 18 18 19 19 19

1976 Hatch 17 17 17 17 17 10 9 8 8 7 6 3 (not paired in 197R) 7 8 9 9 10 11 14 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 +:-- 12 12 12 10 10 7 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 1 1 0 1975 or Earlier Hatch 2 2 (not paired in 1978) 5 6 6 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 11 11 12

Paired 1978 10 1() 10 10 10 10 8 8 8 8 6 5 5 5 5 4 (no eggs produced) 2 2 2 2 4 5 5 5 5 6 10 10 10

Paired 1978 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 (eggs produced) 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 8 8 8

Totals Birds not having left 80 . pen 139 139 139 132 122 94 86 81 77 72 62 51 36 35 24 3 3

Birds recorded as having left pen (includes those that 7 17 45 53 38 59 62 67 77 88 103 104 115 136 136 139 return to pen)

1/ Top number N/ represents number of geese within a class that has not reached flight capability as defined by flying from the pen. Bottom number represents number that have flown from the pen at least once. Blank in either space represents zero. • ( Post-Molt Dispersal

As birds attained flight capability and began leaving the pen, the initial use areas centered around the pen site. Geese fed in the tall carex of Goose Valley and on the lower slopes of the hill overlooking the pen. Often, apparently confused by the obstruction of the fence, geese would walk the outside perimeter of the pen as they tried to rejoin birds of their social unit inside the pen. On 12 August a group of five guide birds were observed returning to the pen site from a use area 500 meters north of the pen. By 14 August the guide birds were ranging over the slopes and past the crest of the hill overlooking the north side of Goose Valley. Flight capable captive-reared geese began using the same area by 16 August. The first observation of geese away from the immediate release site occurred on 18 August when a flock of 15 (mostly three-year or older Patuxent hatch birds) was seen flying 1/2 mile south east of Goose Valley and a flock of 17 (all the flight capable guide birds) was found feeding in the uplands 1/2 mile south of Goose Valley. The guide birds established a pattern of leaving the pen site at dawn to feed in the alpine south of Aga Cove and returning to the pen site each evening. The captive reared geese used the hillsides north of the pen site and later the Goose Flat area south of the pen. By 23 August flocks were regularly seen flying over Aga Cove and across the interior of the island. The daily presence of most geese was ( documented through collar observations. However, apparently there was wandering by some birds. On the basis of lack of sightings, 13 geese became absent from the release site and known use areas on 23 August. Of these, two paired birds were observed on 31 August,. Two yearling Amchitka birds were not observed until 6 September for one, and a 1977 Amchitka hatched bird reappeared on 6 September, 18 September for the other, and a three-year-old bird, was never sighted again. Another six birds were not accounted for beginning on 25 August. Of these, two, a yearling Amchitka-hatched and a 1976-three­ year old bird, were never seen again, two paired birds were re-sighted on 28 August, and two additional three-year-old birds were again observed on 30 August and on 11 September. During this time virtually all other geese were accounted for as using the release site or nearby areas. By 26 August with few exceptions the goose pen was either completely empty or had only few birds present during the day. The geese would return daily to the pen in the evening and depart the following morning. By 9 September the captive-reared geese began shifting their daily use area from Goose Flat to join the guide birds using the alpine zone of Aga Cove. The geese continued roughly that same pattern through our departure on 14 September •

• 41 • ( A map summar1z1ng use areas and general lines of flight is provided in Figure 9.

Migrational Unrest and Departure

In the weeks following the advent of flight capability, the geese appeared to achieve a progressively more steady and rapid flight. Often a V-formation was assumed by a flock in flight. By 27 August flocks were regularly observed flying over Aga Cove. Upon occasion flocks were seen flying completely out of sight east­ ward over the ocean and then returning to Aga Cove. Beginning at that time geese were also regularly heard calling in flight at night.

A loose social group of 14 Patuxent-hatched yearlings apparently departed Agattu on 1 September. On 4 September one of these birds was seen by E. Rhode on Shemya Island 27 miles distant. This bird and another of the group was observed by F. B. Lee on Agattu 18 September.

Another group of associating birds, nine Amchitka-hatched yearlings were last seen on 4 September. An additional bird of this class, last seen on 2 September, probably departed with these birds. None of these birds were observed again. l As fall progressed the birds appeared to increasingly behave as a single unit. In addition to feeding together the daily mean flock size increased from 9 on 23 August to 30 by 13 September (Figure 10.), ,

In addition to the almost daily flights over Aga Cove, examples of what was believed to be major migrational unrest was observed between 8 and 12 September. The first, on 8 September was a flock of 89 which flew eastward out of Aga Cove at 1900 hours. Southeast of the cove this flock broke into segments and groups wheeled through the area for an excess of 30 minutes before returning to the island. On 9 September two flocks of 64 and 31 flew eastward out of Aga Cove at 1215 and returned, circling for 1.5 hours. All 104 birds known present on Agattu flew eastward out of Aga Cove during the evening of 11 September and returned within 10 minutes. A general milling over Aga Cove by flocks of up to 53 geese was noted on the evening of 12 August •

• 42 Figure 9. Use areas (stippled) and lines of flight (arrows) of geese dispersing from release site - Agattu 1978. • ( .

. .. ~..

[Note: cross-hatched area same as stippled area.]

• 43 • +J~ Cntt

I L. s f tr T 0 8 "') p 'r.' b t:· o) () £ 'l l I I 0 0 '

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•.g L 61 07,/ltl :f(;/ c~ f>?"v~Cf o ~iJ b ) J,"ff ,A> 4 :( "YJ' /;r.-rvp ~·,lV [II 7"7,/'_j • • ( At the time of our departure on 14 September 101 geese, including the guide birds, were known or presumed present out of the original 139 released. In addition, three wild goslings, apparently from Buldir, arrived singly on 25 August, 3, and 9 September and joined the release flock. The rearing and age class composition of the remaining geese was as follows:

Original number Number present

Guide birds-yearling (SY) 12 4

8 (presumed)

Guide birds adult (ASY) 10 6

4 (presumed)

Amchitka hatched yearlings 52 37

Patuxent hatched yearlings 19 5

'I'wo-year-olds 17 16

( Three-years or older (unpaired) 12 9

Paired breeders (produced no eggs 10 7 1978)

Paired breeders (produced eggs 1978) 7 (excluding 1 5 paired guide bird)

On 18 September, F. B. Lee went to Agattu via the R/V Aleutian Tern. During the single day spent there he counted and read collar numbers on two groups of 25 and 11 geese around the release site. Two were guide birds: one was mated to a captive-reared adult and the other had been held at Amchitka since fall 1977. Most of the geese identified were known present on our departure on 14 September, but three had not been seen on Agattu since 31 August and one had not been seen since 22 August. It was felt that those 36 geese were all that were present in the surrounding area . • 45

·-·- -·· • ( A listing of the known status of individual birds through our departure of 14 September, and including F. B. Lee's observations on 18 September is provided in Table 9.

Mortality Factors

No direct observation of mortality was recorded during the summer.

The following potential mammalian predators were observed on Agattu:

Arctic fox. Tracks of a single individual were seen at Sandy Cove on 6 September. Summer efforts to finalize fox eradication on Agattu are summarized in Appendix E.

Peregrine falcon. A pair of these birds were present in the Goose Valley area throughout the summer. By 2 August individuals began stooping at the geese in the release pen. The reaction of the geese was to rush together into groups and all begin rapid calling. This unsuccessful stooping was observed regularly for the remainder of the summer. As geese became flight capable, they were harassed and chased by single falcons away from the release site. By 8 September this was an almost daily occurrence.

Glaucous-winged gull. This species was common in the Aga Cove and Goose Valley area. Geese would become alert and begin calling when gulls flew low over the pen. Although gulls pose no threat to the adult geese, they probably would be a mortality factor upon future clutches and young goslings.

Parasitic jaeger. This species may be increasing due to reduction of fox predation upon their nests. These birds could be a potential nest predator as geese begin establishing breeding on the island.

Snowy Owl. Although a single primary was found inside the pen 30 June, the other two observations of this species were in the uplands.

Common raven. Ravens were regularly seen in Goose Valley. The geese showed no alarm at the appr oach of these birds • Ravens are a known predator on waterfowl nests and would be a potential nest predator as geese establish nesting • on the island.

46 • c Table 9. Final observation of marked individuals of 1978 Agattu release up to 18 September 1978.

Collar Number Status

301 Last observed 13 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

302 Present on 14 Sep. ·--· 303 Present on 14 Sep

304 Last observed 13 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep

305 Last observed 12 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

306 Last observed 12 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

307 Present 14 Sep.

308 Last observed 12 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

309 Last observed 13 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

310 Last observed 12 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep. (_ 311 Present 14 Sep.

312 Last observed 13 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

313 Last observed 12 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep...... 314 Present 14 Sep.

315 Last observed 13 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

316 Present 14 Sep.

317 Last observed 13 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

318 Present 14 Sep.

319 Last observed 13 Sep., believed present on 14 Sep.

320 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep . • 47 • c Collar Number Status

321 Present 14 Sep.

322 Present 14 Sep.

323 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

324 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

325 Last observed 24 Aug.

326 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

327 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

328 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

329 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

330 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

331 Present 14 Sep . , observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

\ 332 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

333 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

334 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

335 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

336 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

337 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

338 Present 14 Sep., observed by F. B. Lee 18 Sep.

339 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

340 Present 14 Sep., ob served by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

341 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

342 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep. •• 48 • ( Collar Number Status

343 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

344 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

345 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

346 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

347 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

348 Present on 14 Sep.

349 Last observed 22 Aug., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

350 Present 14 Sep.

351 Present 14 Sep.

352 Present 14 Sep.

353 Present 14 Sep.

(_ 354 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

355 Present 14 Sep.

356 Present 14 Sep.

357 Present 14 Sep.

358 Present 14 Sep.

359 Last observed 22 Aug.

360 Present 14 Sep.

361 Last observed 6 Sep.

362 Present 14 Sep.

363 Last observed 6 Sep.

364 Last observed 25 Aug .

• 49 • ( Collar Number Status

365 Last observed 4 Sep.

366 Last observed 2 Sep.

367 Last bbserved 4 Sep.

368 Last observed 4 Sep.

369 Last observed 4 Sep.

370 Present 14 Sep.

371 Last observed 4 Sep.

372 Last observed 4 Sep.

373 Last observed 3 Sep.

374 Last observed 4 Sep.

375 Last observed 31 Aug., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

376 Last observed 31 Aug.

377 Last observed 31 Aug •..

378 Last observed 31 Aug.

379 Last observed 31 Aug.

380 Last observed 31 Aug.

381 Last observed 31 Aug.

382 Present 14 Sep.

383 Last observed 12 Sep., believed present 14 Sep.

384 Last observed 31 Aug.

385 Last observed 31 Aug.

386 Last observed 31 Aug. • 387 Last observed 31 Aug.

50 • ( Collar Number Status

388 Last observed 31 Aug., observed by E. Rhode on Shemya 4 Sep. , observed on Agattu by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

389 Last observed 31 Aug.

390 Last observed 31 Aug.

391 Present 14 Sep.

392 Present 14 Sep.

393 Present 14 Sep.

394 Last observed 28 Sep.

395 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

396 Present 14 Sep.

397 Present 14 Sep.

398 Present 14 Sep.

399 Present 14 Sep.

400 Present 14 Sep.

407 Present 14 Sep.

408 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

409 Present 14 Sep.

410 Present 14 Sep.

411 Present 14 Sep.

412 Last observed 3 Sep.

413 Present 14 Sep.

414 Present 14 Sep. • 415 Present 14 Sep.

51 • c Collar Number Status

416 Present 14 Sep.

417 Last observed 22 Aug.

418 Present 14 Sep.

419 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

420 Present 14 Sep.

421 Present 14 Sep.

422 Present 14 Sep.

423 Present 14 Sep.

424 Present 14 Sep.

425 Last observed 25 Aug., appeared to have injured primaries

426 Present 14 Sep.

427 Present 14 Sep.

428 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee

429 Present 14 Sep.

430 Present 14 Sep.

431 Present 14 Sep.

432 Last observed 31 Aug.

433 Last observed 31 Aug.

434 Present 14 Sep.

435 Present 14 Sep.

436 Present 14 Sep. • 437 Present 14 Sep .

52 • ( Collar Number Status

438 Present 14 Sep.

439 Last observed 31 Aug., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

440 Present 14 Sep.

441 Present 14 Sep.

442 Last observed 2 Sep.

443 Present 14 Sep., observed by F.B. Lee 18 Sep.

444 Last observed 23 Aug.

445 Present 14 Sep.

I le 53 • ( Accidents - Geese were observed colliding with the fence and outside support wires on several occasions during the period of first flight. This did not appear to be a significant problem. However, on 24 August a three-year old female (#425) was observed having the tips of its 8-9-lOth primaries of the right wing damaged, possibly from such a collision. Although, flight capable, this bird did have its flight capability seriously impaired. The bird was last seen 25 August.

Neck collars - Birds were observed catching their lower mandi- bles be~een the inside of the plastic collars and their necks. Although all birds were able to extract their bills from the collars, this could pose a threat to survival of some birds. This phenomenon of having birds catch their lower mandible inside their collar was not seen to any degree at Agattu prior to the molt. During the molt, the birds appeared to increase their time spent preening around their necks and the incidence of catching their lower mandible inside the collar increased. Although the number of observations of such trapped birds was not recorded, during 1 July - 31 August this was seen almost daily. In most cases the geese were able to quickly re­ lease themselves by shaking their heads while standing still or run­ ning backward. However, in a few instances birds would fall to the ground and struggle there in their attempt to remove their bills from the collars. Duration of all these struggles ranged from 2 seconds to approximately 1 minute. By early September, subjective observations indicated the incidence of bills becoming caught inside the collar decreased. However, this did still occur. By mid-September an estimated 50% of the geese had visible white scratches along the dorsal side of their upper mandibles, caused by scraping against the inside edge of the plastic collar •

• 54 • ( RECOMMENDATIONS

As a result of the information gathered and the evaluation of the release of Aleutian Canada geese on Agattu Island during summer 1978, it is recommended that the Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge:

1. Continue a release program at Agattu Island with a gentle release method and summer long monitoring of the birds.

2. Continue fox elimination efforts on Agattu until absolutely sure no individuals remain.

3. Decrease the number of wild caught guide birds provided for each release. It is hoped that a smaller number would integrate into the captive-reared birds more readily.

4. Identify future research needs in monitoring the release flocks and standardize methodology prior to the field season.

; 5. Initiate a reevaluation of the plastic neck collars to l . see if modifications of the present dimensions would result in less incidents of birds catching their lower mandibles in the collars.

6. Begin 1979 field activities on Agattu in early May to monitor spring arrival of the previous year's released birds. F. B. Lee (personal communication) reports that Canada geese in other restoration efforts t end to return to the immediate release site briefly before dispersal into nesting territories.

7. Enlarge the release pen on the west end and the northeast corner to increase available forage area and loafing sites.

8. Purchase a Questar telescope and provide proper optical equipment so that such items need not be borrowed from other offices .

• 55 • c 9. Provide for replacement of worn pup tents and large camp wall tent.

10. Conduct breeding biology studies as release birds begin to establish nesting. This is necessary to determine requirements of the geese nesting in areas different from Buldir and to provide a measure of the ultimate success of the release program.

11. Advocate the continuation of full time field monitoring of the release geese on the wintering areas.

56 • • ( LITERATURE CITED

Amundsen, C. C. 1972. Amchitka Bioenvironmental Program. Plant ecology of Amchitka Island: final report U. S. AEC Report BMI - 171-139. 27 pp.

Byrd, G. V., J. 1. Trapp, C. S. Craighead, C. P. Dau, and M. H. Dick. 1974. Progress report on restoration of Aleutian Canada geese in the Aleutian Islands, 1974. Unpublished field report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 149 pp.

Clark, A. H. 1910. The birds collected and observed during the cruise of the United States Fisheries steamer "Albatross" in the North Pacific Ocean, and the Bering, Okhotsk, Japan and Eastern Seas, from April to December 1906. Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus. 38:24-27.

Gray, H. D. 1937. Record of use of the Aleutian Islands. Pp 79-159. In Murie et al, Report on biological investigations in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska: May 4- September 21, 1937, Unpublished field report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Hulten, E. 1968. Flora of Alaska and the neighboring territories: a manual to the vascular plants. Stanford Univ. Press. 108 pp.

Murie, 0. J. 1959. Fauna of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula. N. Am. Fauna No. 61. 406 pp.

Springer, P. F., G. V. Byrd, and D. W. Woolington, Reestablishing Aleutian Canada geese. 1978. Pp. 331-338. In S.A. Temple, ed. Endangered birds: management techniques f or preserving threatened species. Univ. of Wisconsin Press. 466 pp.

Turner, L. M. 1885. Contributions to the natural history of Alaska. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington .

• 57 • ( APPENDIX A 1 Annotated List of Birds Observed at Agattu Island , Alaska 19 June - 14 September 1978

*Gavis immer. Common Loon. One or two individuals were seen regularly on Aga Cove throughout the summer. Up to seven birds were observed in the interior of the island on 16 July.

Gavis stellata. Red-throated Loon. A single high plumage bird was seen on Aga Cove 5 and 8 July.

*Oceanodroma furcata. Fork-tailed Storm Petrel. A single bird with a bare brood patch was found dead aboard the R/V Aleutian Tern on the morning of 27 August. The boat had spent the night at anchor in Aga Cove.

*Phalacrocorax pelagicus. Pelagic Cormorant. This bird nested around the perimeter of the island but was greatly outnumbered by the Red-faced Cormorants. Day reports young were present by 3 July.

*Phalacrocorax urile. Red-faced Cormorant. This species was an abundant breeder on the sea cliffs of the island. Chicks ( observed on 22 June were 1-3 weeks old. ~ . Branta canadensis. Canada Goose. Three wild hatching-year leucopareia arriving singly on 25 August, 3 and 9 September joined the release flock of leucopareia and stayed with them at leasF to 14 September.

Anser canagica. Emperor Goose. A single adult was observed on the beach of Karab Cove 28 June by Day, Rhode, and Lawhead. A single adult was again observed on 7 September along the beach of Me Donald Cove.

*Anas platychynchos. Mallard. Mallards were seen in groups on 1-4 regularly throughout the summer. A male still capable of flight was observed 13 July on Goose Lake. A female and 3 three fledgli ngs were seen 10- 12 August on Goose Lake.

Anas acuta. Pintail. At least one male and one female were observed sporatically from 20 June - 26 August. A male in eclipse plumage was seen 14 July . • 58 • ( *Anas crecca n1m1a. (Aleutian) Green-winged Teal. Birds were observed regularly in small numbers throughout the summer. The largest number was four in Goose Valley. On 1 September flight capable young-of-the-year were seen in Goose Valley.

Anas querquedula. Garganey. A single female was seen asso­ ciating with three Green-winged Teal in Goose Valley 1 September.

Bucephala clangula. Common Goldeneye. A single male was seen daily on Aga Cove from 22 to 28 June.

Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin duck. At least nine females and immature males were present on the north side of Aga Cove throughout the summer. Flightless molting birds were seen on 29 August. On 3 September two high plumage males were observed.

*Somateria mollisima. Common Eider. This species was abundant all summer. Eggs were present in nests at our arrival. Class Ia ducklings were first observed on 26 June. Broods were seen regularly from that date to mid August. Molting of males was first observed by Day on 30 June, but flight capable males in breeding plumage were still seen by 16 July.

Polysticta stelleri. Steller's Eider. The sternum and wings • '\ of an immature male was found at the mouth of Aga Creek 20 June.

*Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. This species is a fairly common breeder on Agattu. A bird was seen carrying a small p~ey item over Goose Valley on 2 July. A molting bird was observed by Day and Lawhead on 6-7 July. At least one adult and one immature bird regularly frequented Goose Valley from late July to mid September.

Charadrius mongolus. Mongolian Plover. A single winter plumage bird was seen on Aga Cove beach with three Ruddy Turnstones on 4 September.

Arenaria interpres. Ruddy Turnstone. Two winter plumage birds were seen on Aga Cove Beach 4-5 September. Up to four birds, including one summer plumage individual was seen on Aga Cove beach 2-4 September.

Calidris ruficola. Rufous-necked Sandpiper. A single bird was observed on Aga Cove beach 4 September . • 59 • ( *Calidris ptilocnemis. Rock Sandpiper. This species was common in the alpine zone throughout the summer. Fledgling birds began using the beach areas on 26 July and were seen there regularly the rest of the summer. Up to 17 were observed using the beach.

Tringa nebularia. Greenshank. A single bird was observed in the alpine area south of Karab Cove 6 September.

Tringa glaveola. Wood Sandpiper. Single individuals were observed at Aga Cove 2 September and Goose Lake 14 September.

Tringa hypoleucos. Common Sandpiper. This species was observed daily from 31 August to 4 September at Aga Cove. Single birds were noted on 31 August and 1 and 4 September. Two were observed on 2 and 3 September.

Heteroscelus incanus. Wandering Tattler. Single winter plumage individuals were seen at Aga Cove on 9 August and 7 September. Identity separation from Polynesian Tattler was based on call.

Xenus cinerces. Terek Sandpiper. A single bird was seen at Aga Cove 30 August to 4 September.

Numenius phaeopus. Whimbrel. A pale-rumped individual of the Northern Siberia race variegatus was seen at Aga Cove 3-4 September.

Capella gallinago. Common Snipe. One to two birds were seen regularly in Goose Valley from 22 August to 10 September .

... .,., ,, · .. ... Stercorarius parasiticus. Parasitic Jaeger. Birds were pre­ sent all summer in fairly low numb ers. At least 12 were observed in upland transects on 16 July. Two different light phase birds were observed.

Larus glaucescens. Glaucous-wing gull. Gulls were a common nester. Day found a nest with 5 two-week old young on 25 June. Gulls were observed preying up Common Eider, Red-faced Cormorant, Murre, and Kittiwake chicks. Adult and juvenile gulls fed heavily on pink salmon during mid July to mid September . • • ( *Rissa tridactyla. Black-legged Kittiwake. This species was an abundant breeder, nesting in large colonies at Aga Cove, Cape Sabak and Karab Cove. Eggs were present on 22 June. Early felt that hatching began 30 June or 1 July. A single immature was observed sitting on Goose Lake 13 August.

Rissa brevirostris. Red-legged Kittiwake. A single adult was seen on the beach of Karab Cove on 30 June by Day, Rhode and Lawhead.

*Uria aalgae. Common Murre. This species was an abundant cliff nester. It was much more plentiful than Thick-billed Murre. The first young were seen at the Aga Cove colony on 6 July by Day.

*Uria lomvia. Thick-billed Murre. This species occupied the same nesting cliffs as the Common Murre.

*Cepphus calumba. Pigeon Guillemot. Small numbers of these birds were present at Aga Cove all summer. Day observed a bird carrying fish to a crevice south of Aga Cove 24 June.

Synthliboramphus antiquus. Ancient Murrelet. The remains of one bird was found on a beach bird survey of Aga Cove 4 July.

r One individual was seen swimming in Aga Cove 26 August.

'· Atheia pygmacea. Whiskered Auklet. An injured nonbreeding adult was captured in Aga Cove on 22 July. Wounds appeared to have been inflicted by a gull.

*Fratercula corniculata. Horned Puffin. This species was a relatively common breeder but was greatly outnumberd by Tufted Puffins.

*Lunda cirrhata. Tufted Puffin. This was an abundant breeder nesting on offshore rocks and sea cliffs.

Nyctea scandiaia. Snowy Owl. Single birds were observed on 23 August and 6 September.

*Corvus corax. Common Raven. Birds were seen regularly all summer. Day observed a family group of four at Karab Cove on 30 June .

• 61 • ( *Troglodytes troglodytes. Winter wren. This was a common breeder around the coastal areas. Newly fledged young were abundant around the Aga Cove campsite from early August to mid September.

Leucosticte tephrocotis. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. This was a relatively uncommon breeder but was observed all summer.

*Melospica melodia. Song Sparrow. This species was an abundant breeder along the beach fringe area. First young were noted on 29 June. A very pale blond bird was observed in Goose Valley 1 September.

*Calcarius lapponicus. Lapland Longspur. This abundant breeder was widely distributed over the island. Hatching was first observed on 1 July.

*Plectrophenax nivalis. Snow Bunting. This was a common breeder in the alpine zone. Fledglings were encountered at the Aga Cove campsite in mid August to September.

( 1Asterisk (*) indicates species which is known to nest on Agattu .

. ,· ··.

•

62 • ( APPENDIX B

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 1978 RELEASE OF ALEUTIAN CANADA GEESE AT AGATTU ISLAND, ALASKA.

In compliance with the Recovery Team's request for suggestions which may be helpful in planning for the Agattu Island release the following is offered:

The 'Gentle Release' Method

It is recommended that the 'gentle release' method be used for the Agattu Island release next year. This procedure is more com­ plicated and costly than simply turning the birds out, but may be worth the added effort. It involves construction of an open-topped pen in which the wing-clipped birds are held. Here the geese go through the molt and are free to fly at will when they become capa­ ble of flight.

I haven't been to Agattu Island but an examination of sli des and maps, and discussions with knowledgeable individuals indicates that an area at Aga Cove will be suitable for the release pen. It is recommended that the pen be about 5 acres in size but there is some room for give or take depending on the terrain. The pen should include a portion o f the stream which will provide drinking water and a place to bathe. It is important that the birds have a place t o bathe so the ir plumage i s in firs t class condition at the t ime they are able to fly free.

A list of materials and supplies needed to build and maintain the release pen has been prepared. It include s wire , posts, feeders, feeder shelters and feeders. Two feeder shelters o f the type used a t Bridge Creek are recommended. Feed needs can be ca lculated at the rate of 6 ounces per bird per day. It is difficult to project total feed needs this first year since we do not know what food con­ sumption will be after the birds are on the wing. However, for planning purposes we should figure on an initial supply of 2000 pounds being brought to Agattu Island. This may prove sufficient f or the season. Each bag of feed should be enclosed in a pla stic bag wh ich is sealed t i ghtly. The feed s hould be store d under some kind of shelter at Agattu Island, and rat bait stations should be set up •

• 63 • ( Guide Birds

It is proposed that 12 Aleutian Canada geese captured in the trapping and banding operation in the vicinity of Castle Rock in the early spring of 1978 be retained as guide birds. This group would consist of 8 males and 4 females. All would be older birds that have made the flight from Buldir Island at least twice. This should not be too difficult for any bird older than sub-adult would have made the flight twice.

These 12 guide birds would be selected out as early in the banding operation as possible. In order to avoid subjecting them to a double stress they should be held in California for the 30 day quarantine period. They would be wing clipped, and when first put in confinement probably should be offered a variety of foods including whatever grains they were taking at the trapsite. Then they can be gradually sh.ifted to the NPWRC formula maintenance diet that is being fed at Amchitka. Feed can be shipped from Jamestown to California for this purpose.

The guide birds should be weighed at the time of capture and can be weighed again later for an indication of their general body condition.

Also, it would be desirable for someone from the National Fish and Wildlife Health Lab to be at hand when the geese are first cap­ tured in order to test them for disease and parasites. If medica­ tion with a coccideastat or otherwise, is recommended this could be done while the birds are being held in quarantine in California.

In fact, this might also be an opportunity for the National Fish and Wildlife Health Lab to examine or test all or part of the birds that are trapped in California.

Assuming that the guide birds are trapped in early to mid-March they could be shipped to Amchitka on the April or May charters, preferably the one in April if this is possible. Advice should be sought from the National Fish and Wildlife Health Lab or Dr. Carpenter relative to medication immediately prior to shipment.

After arrival at Amchitka the guide birds would be added to the group of 73, 1977 hatched birds. They will be observed carefully to determine that they are eating and drinking properly. In addition to the 12 geese captured in California, two older males at Amchitka were captured in Buldir Island in 1976 and can be added to the guide bird group .

• 64 ------··---- .

• ( Composition of Release Group

The Agattu release could be composed of 132 birds which includes 12 guide birds captured in California and shipped to California. This number is calculated as follows:

The release could include 73, 1977 hatch geese which are pre­ sently being held at Amchitka; 53 were reared at Amchitka and 20 are from Patuxent.

In addition there would be 47 birds from the older group being held at Amchitka now, which numbers 101 geese, 42 of which are females. Plans are for the basic breeding flock at Amchitka to consist of 40 pairs for 1979. Thirteeen of these pairs would be made up of the 26 geese hatched in 1976 at Amchitka from eggs gathered at Buldir Island. So the 40 pair goal less 13 pairs to come from Jamestown leaves 27 (54 birds)pairs that would be held back from the 42 older females and their mates being held at Amchitka. Fifty-four from 101 leaves 47 geese that would be added to the release group.

The selection process will involve the segregation of all 42 females and their mates if they pair off. We already have some history on the twenty pairs that were segregated last year. These will be separated in 1978 on the basis of band numbers. The 55 older geese which were received from Patuxent in September 1977 will be neck collared this winter so pairs can be readily identified this coming spring. In other words, we will extract as many eggs as possible from the older birds at Amchitka in 1978, and in the_process of doing so will select up to 27 pairs as keepers. The remaining geese will be included in the release group. It should be possible to decide which pairs are to be kept, by late June.

Marking

In addition to the federal bands the geese in the Agattu release should be marked with colored plastic neck collars, of a color that is different from that which is being used on wild birds. Testing of collars on captive birds at NPWRC has indicated satisfactory re­ sults with a 1" wide collar. It is recommended that 3/32" Lynnply stock be used when this narrow a collar width is used.

Assuming a single color of neck collar is used for the Agattu release, it might be appropriate to use separate blocks of numbers for a) 1977 hatch birds, b) guide birds and c) older captive­ rea red birds •

• 65 • c A very necessary piece of equipment for reading collar numbers at Agattu Island is a Questar telescope.

It is recommended that the geese which are intended for release at Agattu Island be processed at Amchitka at least one week before they are crated and hauled by ship to the release pen. This pro­ cessing involves removal of bands and/or markers they are wearing, and putting on federal bands, and neck collars. A special form will be used to be sure that the previous identity of each bird is maintained, and is linked to the federal band number. This advance marking will enable us to see if any problems develop with the collars and the birds will be able to settle down before being sub­ jected to the stresses of moving.

Time Tables for Spring of 1978

The construction of the gentle release pen and the movement of the birds represents a fairly complex exercise in logistics. Possibly it can be handled in the following manner.

1. Materials for the release pen would be taken via the Aleutian Tern from Amchitka to Agattu Island on the first trip of the season which I judge would be in the period from mid to late May. The materials would include 14 rolls woven wire, 225 steel posts, 2 plywood feed shelters, 2000 lbs of feed, and feeders and miscellaneous items. The amount of feed brought out at this time could be less depending on the scheduling of subsequent trips and the movem~nt of the geese.

Sufficient labor support should accompany the first trip to Agattu Island so that construction of the gentle release pen can begin immediately.

2. The 73, 1977 hatched geese plus the 12 guide birds could actually be put in the release pen as soon as it is built. If these geese were brought to Agattu Island on this first trip they would have to be held in a small temporary enclosure until the release pen is completed. Since the birds are hauled 6 to the crate this would add 14, 14" X 24" X 35 1/2" crates to the load on the Aleutian Tern. The temporary holding pen might be made from about 4 rolls of the woven wire that will be incorporated into the release pen when this pen is nearing completion. The remaining geese (about 45) would be moved to Agattu Island in late June .

• 66 • c 3. Another alternative might be to move all the birds in late June after it has been possible to determine which pairs will be retained. The 1977 hatch geese would probably be flightless at this time due to the molt. A move at this time might be undesirable due to the possibility of injuring soft primaries during the handling process.

4. What would be more ideal would be to move the young and guide birds (85 birds) on a separate run soon after the release pen is completed. If such fits in with other necessary travel in the islands this would be the best route to take. The remaining older birds (45 birds) would be moved in late June.

5. The timing of the molt is a little hard to predict. It is expected that the 1977 hatch birds would become flightless in mid­ June and be followed soon by unmated male adults, and the guide birds. Most breeding pairs probably will not become flightless before July 1.

6. These projections suggest that some of the young geese in the gentle release pen at Agattu Island will be capable of flight in mid-July and from then until mid-August geese will be becoming flight-capable. Valuable data on the flightless period and the timing of flight capability by birds of different ages will be forthcoming as a by-product of the monitoring of the release. Such data will be very valuable in the planning of subsequent releases in 1979 and later.

7. In a general sense the movement of feed from Amchitka to Agattu should be linked closely to the actual transport schedule for the geese. Since there is some risk of feed spoilage at Agattu, it will be best to leave the feed at Amchitka as late into the season as possible, and still move it in time to meet the needs of the birds.

8. It is recommended that feeding be continued at Agattu Island for some time after the geese are on the wing. This will probably be self-regulatory to some degree. It is expected that the geese will gradually consume less and less of the foods we provide, as they shift to natural foods. Our experience with giant Canadas indicates that these geese often begin their migra­ tion even though food is available •

• 67 • ( Evaluation of the Agattu Release

It will be necessary for two persons to be stationed at Agattu Island in connection with evaluation of the release, in case of sickness or accident. Quarters, food and radio communication must be planned for. These personnel should be at hand from the time of release until the geese leave in the fall. Or if the geese do not leave this should be known and any appropriate actions taken. The logistics of servicing and removing personnel from Agattu Island late in the season will be very difficult.

Much of the first summer evaluation will involve reading collar numbers and assessing the behavior of the birds once they are on the wing. A Questar telescope will be an essential piece of equipment. Data from collar readings will enable us to determine when the different age classes (groups) of birds achieve flight capability. It is important to know when the guide birds are on the wing. In addition it will be important to assess the behavior of the guide birds in relation to the other geese in the release. How well do the birds integrate into a single social group, and how dominant are the guide birds in the social order that developes? Careful and systematic observation will provide answers to questions like these. Departure dates are important.

Where many sightings of marked birds are involved, data handling becomes a problem. It is easy to accumulate a large volume of such data and find that it is very difficult to handle manually. For this reason some automatic data processing method should be u~ed if possible. We ran into this problem when Michael A. Johnson, U. of Minnesota graduate student commenced evaluation of the giant Canada goose releases in North Dakota. A satisfactory system was developed which might be suitable for the Agattu release. All sightings, recoveries, etc. are recorded on a special form which goes to a key punch operator, and a data bank is built up. The original data on sex, year hatche d, source, release location and date, and other information is also fed into the data bank. The computer then can, among other things, print out a complete chronological history of any bird. While the system was originally designed for the Univer­ sity of Minnesota computer setup, it has now been adapted to NPWRC computer capabilities. It might be possible to incorporate all Aleutian Canada banding, marking, sighting and recovery data that have accumulated to date into one system such as this •

• 68 ( • ' In addition to the on-site work at Agattu Island it would be highly desirable to have someone making observations at Buldir Island to determine if geese from the Agattu release show up there in the fall staging period. Of course, the work on the wintering ground in California will be an essential part of the evaluation.

Evaluation of the Agattu release, as well as other future re­ leases will of necessity be long-term. For example, in the spring of 1979 the evaluation team should be on hand at the time the geese can be expected to return. Hopefully, some geese will return and again collar readings and careful and systematic observations will be important. We must know which birds return, in relation to the different age classes released. We must appraise pairing behavior, breeding behavior especially in relation to spatial and habitat considerations, reproductive success, and other facets of their lift history.

If an ADP system is adapted it may be necessary to develop some kind of an orientation procedure for pinpointing locations of observations.

Initial evaluation of giant Canada goose releases in North Dakota was made by a University of Minnesota graduate student. Another graduate study will continue the evaluation. \ Evaluation of the Agattu release, and subsequent releases there and elsewhere should be regarded as a research function. One option is to follow the graduate student route. Another is tp employ one or more persons with a solid background in research on Canada geese to work in this phase of the restoration program on a continuing basis. Continuity is important and we should avoid yearly assignment of new personnel who have had little of the essential previous experience.

Research design is important and we really need a fairly solid plan which spells out procedures including what categories of data will be obtained, methods of recording data especially as related to ADP, etc. It would seem important that the person(s) who will evaluate the Agattu release should be designated soon, and that this person's or the teams if more than one, first responsibility is to prepare a study outline for evaluating the release.

Respectfully submitted by:

Forrest B. Lee • 12-1-77 69 • ( APPENDIX C

Empetrum Berry Crop Monitoring Plot

Plot A.

Location: 200 mi. NNE of goose pen on hillside overlooking Goose Valley

Elevation: Top West 220' East 120' Aspect 200 Slope 12'

Bottom West lOS' East SO'

Methods

Plot Design:

Dimensions of the plot are 100 X 100 meter. The plot was divided into 100 10 X 10 grids. Ten random two digit numbers were taken from a random number table and the centers of the correspondingly numbered grids were used as the beginning point for each of the ten 10-meter transect lines. A compass bearing, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees, was randomly selected for each transect. Five one-meter square samples were to be taken at the 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 meter intervals along the transect line. Each sample was to be taken along the north-facing side of the transect line (if the transect line runs North-South the samples are placed on the West side of the line). Twenty-five one-meter square samples were taken at the junction of 20-meter X 20-meter grids over the entire plot. Each sample the percent empetrum present was recorded.

Plot Lay-out:

Plot boundaries were laid out with SO m. steel tape and compass bearings (vertical sides of plot run North-South). Coordinates for the beginning point of each transect was located by steel tape and compass bearing. Direction of each transect was determined by compas s bearing. The beginning point of each transect was perma­ nently marked with a wooden numbered stake. At the 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 meter intervals, all empetrum berries within a 1 meter2 grid were collected f or number and dry weight. For the empetrum vegeta­ tive composition analysis, one-meter square samples were taken at the junction of 20 X 20 meter grids (see diagram). Cover percent­ ages were estima t ed by the amount o f ground story occupied by empetrum withi n the one me ter square . Cover levels were assigned one of 9 strata of values (0-10% through 90-100%).

\ • ' 70 (ccrnu mMbr #) Gr1d#_ ri8) ------+---~ ~ ------____c, (li) t ------,. ~} /,} -·· ------

------1------~ ---- I ,, -ftqj ------II ------~I ------. - - - . ------

' Sl------fit:.T ------, ------.I ------· - -(3) &~ . ------~·- --- - ·- 5( :_j_~ ------~ ------~) I ' ,. ------1\.~ •------•• _7"t -r - -

e~. r- 1- 1-

~ 91 t · No) -- ® ~ - . TI"'AMPCt GriJ ~ Sq~

t • ~Q 3lQ •• .}. ,?$0 ~' lfts J 3 !f:l. ~(; O #Jete: TcOORci #~ 4hvl 1

~ os .3~0 a..t- ~itlt ~d (!Q' net f:#!!!:. • s ISO ;~f; 4bo"$) ( '"!¥'~ {;, *" 't..-~s.ec {t. dll ~r i ds. - ~ 1· en (),}0 I• M.. ..Jrtb'" plot ~cmdAC•t~

l t v«< .330 I s ~ a; I U I 'J ca.a.o ... 2 '" ~ 10 tts 310 ..... • l j¢ 71

\. • Dry Weight Determination

The collected berry samples were air-dried in the field by placing them in paper bags near the cabin heater. Samples were brought to standardized dry weight by placing them in a drying oven at 105°C for 24 hours. After being allowed to cool for 1.5 hours each sample was weighed to the nearest .001 gram.

Results

Berry Transect Results (10 Transects)

1 Replication II berries 2 Replication II berries

1 0 1 1 2 0 2 2 3 0 3 38 4 0 4 32 5 0 Total 5 13 Total Dry wt Dry wt = Total 0 0 Total = 96 2. 475 gm

3 Replication II berries 4 Replication II berries

1 144 1 0 2 105 2 1 3 14 3 8 4 24 4 19 5 8 Total 5 13 Total Dry wt Dry wt Total= 295 6.928 gm Total = 41 . 719 gm

5 Replication II berries 6 Replication II berries

1 1 1 0 2 0 2 2 3 0 3 0 4 1 4 0 5 0 Total 5 0 Total Dry wt Dry wt = Total 2 .035 Total 2 .024 gm • 72 • c 7 Replication # berries 8 Replication # berries

1 15 1 9 2 27 2 19 3 3 3 47 4 0 4 3 5 0 Total 5 3 Total Dry wt = Dry wt Total = 45 .705 gm Total = 81 1. 816 gm

9 Replication II berries 10 Replication II berries

1 10 1 334 2 35 2 249 3 1 3 86 4 4 4 145 5 0 Total 5 22 Total Dry wt Dry wt Total = 50 1. 042 gm Total 836 13.879 gm

Empetrum Composition of Plot A (_ ~ ~ !!.) ~ ~

§) ~ ~ ~ ~

~ fsJ ~ l;l ~

~ f2J [!2I ~ ~

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Grid Percent

1 A 10-20 2 A 10-20 3 A 80-90 4 A 80-90 5 A 30-40 B 0-10 B 20-30 B 20-30 B 30-40 B 0-10 c 50-60 c 90-100 c 90-100 c 70-80 c 70-80 D 0-10 D 60-70 D 70-80 D 50-60 D 90-100 E 0-10 E 0-10 E 60-70 E 90-100 E 90-100

• 73 • ( APPENDIX D

Annotated List of Plant Foods Observed Eaten by Aleutian Canada Geese at Agattu Island, 1978.

Sphagnum, sp. Moss was eaten aroung the feeders but any consump­ tion was not noted in other areas.

Unidentified grasses - small unidentified grasses were grazed both inside and out side of the pen.

Carex Lyngbyaei. This sedge was the mainstay of the geese's diet for most of the summer. The leaves were grazed in early-mid summer and the seed heads were stripped later in the season. The roots were eaten in August.

Carex sp. Small unidentified species of Carex were eaten in Goose Valley and the upland areas.

Juncus arcticus. Rushes were eaten around the vicinity of the feeders. During early August, birds inside the pen began grubbing for the runners.

Iris setosa - a few leaves of this plant were taken inside the pen but it evidently was not a preferred item.

Platanthera convallariaefolia. The plant was uncommon in the pen but most had been heavily grazed. Plants outside the pen were also grazed. -_ ... ~

Salix arcti ca. A few leaves were grazed in early August but thi s was not a preferred food item.

Rumex fenestratis. The plant was rare inside the pen but a large percentage of them were grazed in July.

Anemone narcissiflora. The leaves of a few plants were eaten but not extensively.

Rannunculus occidentalis. The leaves of this plant were grazed heavily during mi d- July through August.

Angelica lucida - The l eaves of this pl ant were eaten inside the temporary holding pen but not t hereaft er •

• 74 • c.- Heracleum lanatum. The leaves were grazed heavily inside the tem­ porary holding pen but only slightly afterwards.

Empetrum nigrum. The berries of this plant were a major part of the diet during August-September.

Plantago macrocarpa. The leaves were used slightly during July but the root was extensively grubbed and eaten in August.

Achillea borealis. The leaves of a few plants were eaten in July but this evidently was not a preferred food item.

Cirsium kamtschaticum. The leaves of this plant were moderately grazed during July and August.

·- ~

• 75 c APPENDIX E

A summary of Arctic Fox Removal Efforts on Agattu Island

19 June - 14 September 1978

19 June We arrive at Agattu, no sign of fox seen in the Aga Cove area.

18 June-1 July R. Day, E. Rhode, and B. Lawhead searched for fox sign during seabird censusing at Karab Cove. No evidence of fox was noted.

4-5 July T. Early and K. Hall searched for fox sign at Binnacle Bay. No sign was found and an old carcass of a sea lion had not been scavenged.

6 September K. Hall arrived at island to make fall search for fox sign and set out M-44 cartridges on island perimeter. A single set of fox tracks was found on Sandy Cove. D. Yparraguirre searched inland areas around Sandy Cove but observed no sign of fox.

(_ 1 September D. Yparraguirre searched area from McDonald Cove to Aga Cove without finding any fox. K. Hall completed setting M-44 cartridges on island perimeter. A total of 32 cartridges were set out over w~nter.

• 76