Movements and Distribution of Radio-Collared Canada Geese in Anchorage, Alaska

Abstract

We monitored radio-equipped ( n = 50) and neck-collared ( n = 205) lesser Canada geese (Branfa canadenszs parvzpes) during August through October 1996 i n Anchorage, Alaska, t o ascertain local patterns o f movement and post-molt dispersal; t o identify geese f r o m molting sites that frequent Elmendorf Air Force Base (EAFB); and t o evaluate the effectiveness o f hazing at EAFB.Telemetry data and visual observations o f collared geese indicated 59% o f geese observed at EAFB were from molting sites 5 1 0 k m from EAFB.W e observed 93 marked geese f r o m 11 molting sites 1 or more times i n the EAFB airdrome, and 63% o f geese observed >2 times o n EAFB were f r o m moltlng sites 5 1 0 k m from EAFB.A significant direct relationship was found between proportion o f geese invading the EAFB alrdrome and the distance molting sites were located f r o m EAFB.After attaining flight, geese from the northeast and northwest quadrants o f Anchorage initially moved greater distances from molt sites t o feeding sites than geese from other parts o f Anchorage.Intensive hazing proved effective i n preventing 67% o f marked geese f r o m returning t o the exclusion zone.However, hazed geese dispersed only 3.53 2 0.2 k m f r o m the exclusion zone.Most observations o f marked geese at EAFB occurred during afternoon from 1200 through 1759 hr.Although hazing efforts provided an increased measure of flying safety, w e suggest that managlng geese at the spatial level o f the entire city wlll b e more successful at reducing danger t o aircraft.