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Aleutian Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis Leucopareia)

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Aleutian Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis Leucopareia) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Threatened and Endangered Species Aleutian Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia) Status Only slightly Threatened throughout its range larger than a (Federal Register, November 21, 1991), mallard duck, the formerly endangered (Federal Aleutian Canada Register, March 11, 1967). goose is one of the smallest Description subspecies of The Aleutian Canada goose is one of Canada goose. It the smallest subspecies of Canada nests only on goose. Adults are slightly larger than islands in the a mallard, weighing 1.8 to 2.7 North Pacific kilograms (4 to 6 pounds). Like all Ocean. USFWS Canada geese, Aleutian Canada geese photo by Rob have a black head and neck with a Lowe white cheek patch, brown wings and back, a grayish-brown breast and belly, a white rump patch, and black legs and feet. Aleutian Canada geese are distinguished from other Canada goose subspecies by their small size, short bill, and white ring encircling the base of the neck. Range and Population Level Aleutian Canada geese probably bred historically on islands south of the Alaska Peninsula west of Kodiak Canada geese breeding in the Aleutian wintering grounds, the geese frequent Island, throughout the Aleutian Islands winter primarily in the agricultural lands such as pastures Islands, and on the Commander and Central Valley of California, and geese and grainfields, and roost at night on Kuril islands in Russia. They probably breeding in the Semidi Islands winter inland lakes and coastal islands. wintered from British Columbia to near Pacific City, Oregon. Due to the northern Mexico and in Japan. Today, recovery program, the population of Reasons for Current Status most of the population nests on Buldir Aleutian Canada geese has increased The principal cause of the decline of Island, but remnant populations also from about 800 birds in the mid-1970’s the Aleutian Canada goose was persisted on Chagulak Island in the to more than 32,000 birds in 1999. predation by arctic fox (Alopex eastern Aleutians and on Kiliktagik lagopus). Foxes were introduced to Island in the Semidi Island group. Habitat and Habits many North Pacific islands for fur Reintroduced populations now also Aleutian Canada geese nest on farming, principally between 1915 and flourish on Agattu and Nizki-Alaid treeless islands in areas densely 1939, but dating back as early as the islands in the western Aleutians. vegetated by grasses, sedges, and 1750's. This introduced predator Releases of translocated geese or ferns. Nest sites usually are found on decimated populations of many species expansion of remnant populations steep, grassy hillsides near the of native birds on the islands. Geese have resulted in limited nesting on seacoast. Molting habitat is generally were particularly susceptible to Little Kiska, Amchitka, Amukta, and located farther inland than nesting predation not only during egg and Anowik (Semidi) islands. Aleutian sites. During migration and on chick stages, but also as molting adults became flightless. In addition, suitable wintering habitat is disappearing due to urbanization and Aleutian Canada Goose changing agricultural practices, Branta canadensis leucopareia particularly in the Central Valley of California. Current breeding range Management and Protection All known breeding locations of the Nizki-Alaid Aleutian Canada goose are protected Agattu within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Years of effort have Buldir been devoted to removing introduced Little Kiska arctic foxes from former nesting islands and reintroducing Aleutian Canada geese. Remnant breeding Amchitka populations have increased, and reestablished populations now add to Semidi the recovery of this subspecies. Islands Additional goose translocations are Chagulak & Amukta occurring, including a project to reestablish Aleutian Canada geese from Buldir to former nesting islands The breeding range of Aleutian Canada geese is restricted to islands in the North in Russia. Pacific Ocean. Winter habitat for Aleutian Canada geese receives varying levels of Alaska, hunting of Canada geese west progress in the recovery of this protection. Many important wintering of Unimak Pass has been closed since subspecies, it may soon no longer need areas and migration stops are on 1973. Endangered Species Act protection. private lands, but Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge was recently Initially listed as an endangered References established in Oregon to protect species in 1967, the Aleutian Canada Bailey, E.P. 1993. Introduction of Foxes to important wintering habitat. In goose was downlisted to “threatened” Alaskan Islands - History, Effects on Avifauna, and Eradication. U.S. California, San Joaquin River in 1991 due to successful recovery Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and National Wildlife Refuge provides efforts and increasing population numbers. Because of continuing Wildlife Service. Resource publication 193, winter habitat for Aleutian Canada Washington, D.C. 54 pp. geese. Avian cholera is a chronic low- level problem on these wintering Byrd, G.V. 1998. Current breeding status grounds, but the losses incurred due to of the Aleutian Canada goose, a recovering this disease do not have population- endangered species. In press. Biology and level effects. Sport hunting is closed Management of Canada Geese, for all Canada geese in areas heavily Proceedings of the International Canada used by the Aleutian Canada geese. In Goose Symposium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more information on this and other threatened and endangered species, contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Field Office near you. Fairbanks Field Office Anchorage Field Office Northern Alaska Ecological Services (NAES) Western Alaska Ecological Services (WAES) Phone (907)456-0203 Phone (907)271-2888 Barrow Lead office for Steller’s eider, American peregrine Lead office for Aleutian Canada goose, spectacled eider, falcon, and Eskimo curlew short-tailed albatross, and Aleutian shield-fern Project review for northern Alaska Project review for western and southcentral Alaska Kotzebue Nome Juneau Field Office St. Lawrence Fairbanks Island Southeast Alaska Ecological Services U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service St. Matthew Island Anchorage (SEES) 1 800/344 WILD Nunivak Island Bethel Phone (907)586-7240 Juneau http://www.fws.gov Dillingham Ketchikan Sub-office, phone (907)225-9691 Kodiak Status review for old-growth forest species Adak July 1999 Ketchikan.
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