Survival of cackling Canada geese, 1982-1988

Journal of Wildlife Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

We estimated seasonal and annual survival rates of cackling Canada geese (Branta canadensis minima) for the period 1982-1989 to identify periods of high mortality and assess effects of harvest management decisions. We tested hypotheses about age- and sex specific variation in survival, seasonal variation in survival rates, and variation in survival between years in which hunting seasons were open and closed. Geese were marked with individually identifiable neckbands and observed from autumn through spring. We used these data to estimate survival rates for 3-month periods in early (EW) and late (LW) winter and a 6-month period in summer (SU). Mean annual survival rates of immature females were lower than those of adults over the entire study. Survival rates of immature males were lower than those of adults during the 2 years with sport hunting seasons. We found no evidence of sex-specific differences in seasonal or annual survival rates of immature geese. Mean survival rates of adult males and females were similar during EW and LW, but there was evidence of higher survival of females during SU. Annual survival rates of adult females were higher than those of adult males. Mean annual survival rates of adult females and immatures of both sexes were lower in the years during which sport hunting was permitted. Tests for different survival rates in years before and after an agreement with the Eskimos to cease summer hunting yielded equivocal results.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Survival of cackling Canada geese, 1982-1988
Series title Journal of Wildlife Management
DOI 10.2307/3808791
Volume 56
Issue 1
Year Published 1992
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 11 p.
First page 63
Last page 73
Country United States
State Alaska, California
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