Teaching migration routes to canada geese and trumpeter swans using ultralight aircraft, 1990-2001
By: William J.L. Sladen, William A. Lishman, D. H. Ellis, G.G. Shire, and D.L. Rininger
Edited by: Eileen C. Rees, Susan L. Earnst, and John C. Coulson
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Abstract
This paper summarizes eleven years (1990-2001) of experiments to teach Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) and Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) pre-selected migration routes using ultralight aircraft. When Canada Geese were trained to follow an ultralight aircraft for southward autumn migrations of 680 or 1,320 km, 81% (83/103) returned on their own in the next spring to near their place of training. In contrast, none returned of 21 similarly raised geese that were transported south in a closed truck over a route of 680 km. Trumpeter Swans have proven more difficult to train. However, in two experiments in which Trumpeter Swans followed an ultralight for the entire pre-selected route, one of three and two of four returned close to their training area. A stage-by-stage method, in which swans were transported in trucks between stops, flown in the vicinity and penned with a view of the night sky, has shown some promise. So far an established migration route (north and south twice) has been confirmed in only two geese
Suggested Citation
Sladen, W.J., Lishman, W.A., Ellis, D.H., Shire, G., Rininger, D., 2002, Teaching migration routes to canada geese and trumpeter swans using ultralight aircraft, 1990-2001, chap. of Proceedings of the Fourth International Swan Symposium 2001, p. 132-137.
| Publication type | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Title | Teaching migration routes to canada geese and trumpeter swans using ultralight aircraft, 1990-2001 |
| Year Published | 2002 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Other Government Series |
| Larger Work Title | Proceedings of the Fourth International Swan Symposium 2001 |
| First page | 132 |
| Last page | 137 |