Hi all,

On my three mile drive to work this morning (Black Swamp Bird Observatory),
I was observing all the scattered flocks of geese and swans flying back
towards the marshes. In a small flock of Canada's, I observed a small white
goose. Its diminutive size (roughly 45% smaller than the Canada's) is what
first caught my attention. Unfortunately, I was driving down Rt. 2 and had
nowhere to safely pull-off as it flew overhead. Along with the smaller size,
it also had an obvious shorter neck unlike that of a Snow or Canada. I've
been observing the Snow Geese that have been hanging around Meinke Marina
(west of Metzger) over the past couple weeks, and this single bird was
notably smaller. 

After comparing the range of body lengths between 'maxima' Canada (<45in),
'interior' Canada (33.5-36.2in), Snow (28-33in), and Ross's (22-26in), I
feel confident calling it a Ross's based on body and neck length. 

This goose will be hard to track down again as there are numerous flocks
feeding and roosting in several different locations. My guess is that it
roosts somewhere between the marshes of Magee or back in at MS5/Crane Creek
estuary at Ottawa NWR and feeds somewhere along Rt. 19 south of Rt. 2 (or in
the vicinity).

Ethan Kistler
Oak Harbor, Ohio

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