Snow goose habitat

HABITAT

MANAGEMENT

Snow geese are large waterfowl. They are most commonly associated with large ponds, lakes, and coastal wetland areas. Wetland areas with open water are required for safe refuge. Like most birds they are insectivorous as young but they have evolved as effective grazing herbivores as adults. Therefore, snow geese also require open grassland or agricultural fields in proximity to the wetlands needed for reproduction and resting.

MIGRATION ROUTES/HABITATS

When the snow geese migrate in the fall the majority fly down the Central and Mississippi flyways and winter along the Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi coast. In recent years the number of snow geese in these flyways has increased dramatically. The snow geese using other flyways (Atlantic and Pacific) have remained relatively constant on route to their wintering grounds in California, Alabama, Florida and a good number of geese fly into Mexico (Bellrose 1980).

BREEDING HABITATS

Breeding of snow geese usually does not occur until the bird is at least 3 years of age even though the snow goose reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2 (Bellrose 1980). Mating occurs on the northward migration, particularly at rest stops immediately preceding their last passage to the nesting grounds (Bellrose 1980). Each pair occupies an area of bare ground that is vigorously defended. Prior to incubation a male on his territory will attack intruding males, and his mate will attack any intruding females (Bellrose 1980). The nesting territories vary in size form about 18 to 38 square yards per goose (Cooch, 1958). The area is short grassy tundra and is usually near shallow rivers and near the coastline (Bellrose 1980). Clutch size varies from 2 to 10 eggs per nest but rarely are there more than 5 eggs in a nest and the incubation time is approximately 19 to 24 day’s (Bellrose 1980). Females only, brood the young until they are about 2-3 weeks old (Bellrose 1980). Snow geese grow rapidly and are completely fledged in 45 days (Bellrose 1980).

WINTER HABITATS

Traditionally snow geese wintered on the gulf coast in Texas and Louisiana. But, in the 1970's large numbers began wintering in the Midwest (from the Illinois River in northwest Missouri into Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma). Even in coastal Texas and Louisiana the geese have shifted from wintering in coastal marshes to the abundant nearby rice fields (Bellrose 1980). Shifts in wintering areas and habitats by snow geese have resulted in greater nimbers of geese surviving over winters a nd ncreasing numbers of geese returning to their fragile arctic breeding ranges.

DIET

Snow geese eat a variety of foods. Snow geese are opportunistic grazers, they feed on pasture grasses, rushes and grains. They also feed on rootstocks of bulrushes, marsh grasses, and other marsh growth. Tubers and green shoots make up a large portion of the snow geese diet. Snow geese also make use of agricultural products such as waste grains, rice, wheat, barley, and weeds (Bellrose 1980).