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November 2006

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From:
Allen Chartier <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Allen Chartier <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 8 Nov 2006 22:15:54 -0500
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Kenn,

In the past week, there has been a large (by local standards) flock of up to
18 Cackling Geese on Belle Isle in the Detroit River, Michigan. I took a
local Audubon group out this weekend, and we tracked the birds down, and
learned a couple interesting things. The size and proportions are more
difficult to judge when the birds are swimming, as their foreheads seem less
steep, their necks a bit slimmer, and their smaller body size less
pronounced. It was easier to pick them out when they were walking around on
the golf course, especially when in the company of Canadas (both Giant and
Interior forms), where the differences were as you describe; strikingly
obvious. Also, at least this group seemed to be more grayish on the
upperparts than the Canadas, which were more brownish, which helped when the
birds had their heads down in the grass (99% of the time!).

Allen Chartier
[log in to unmask]
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI  48141
Website: http://www.amazilia.net
Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet
===============================================
Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food.
You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't.
It just eats another hummingbird.
---Steven Wright


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenn Kaufman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 7:52 PM
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Cackling Goose, Maumee Bay S.P.


> This afternoon (Nov. 8) I saw a classic typical Cackling Goose associating
> with Canada Geese near the inland swimming beach at Maumee Bay State Park,
> Lucas County.  I actually saw it come in with a flock of about 40 Canadas
> a
> little after 1:30 p.m., and in flight overhead it stood out easily as
> being
> half the size of the other birds, so I went to find the goose flock on the
> ground.
>
> According to what Mark Shieldcastle has told me, Cackling Goose should be
> regular here in small numbers; but because it was only split from Canada
> Goose a couple of years ago, many birders may not have come to grips with
> the species yet.  If you go to look for this bird, sifting carefully
> through
> the goose flock on the ground or on the water is a very good exercise in
> looking at the amount of variation in Canada Geese, with some being
> clearly
> smaller than others.  But when you hit the real Cackling Goose, it's
> strikingly obvious that you have the right bird.  Not only is it much
> smaller than any of the Canadas, it's also a different shape, with a short
> neck, very small squarish head, and very short stubby bill.  This
> individual
> is very pale-chested and has a subtle grayish tone to the body plumage.
>
> Brian Zwiebel had reported a possible Cackling here on Nov. 4 and I
> suspect
> this was the same bird.  There were also a couple of Greater White-fronted
> Geese at Maumee Bay over the weekend; I didn't happen to see those birds
> today, but they could still be in the area, as the geese move around
> during
> the day (as evidenced by the fact that I saw the Cackling Goose arriving
> from elsewhere).
>
> I didn't have time to check out the wooded areas at Maumee Bay today, but
> between the inland swimming beach and the Lake Erie beach I saw a few
> other
> birds of interest, including one Greater Yellowlegs, about 25 Forster's
> Terns, at least 2000 Ring-billed Gulls with just a handful of Herring and
> Bonaparte's Gulls, and a flock of about 60 Snow Buntings.
>
> Kenn Kaufman
> Rocky Ridge, Ohio
>
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