Habitat Use by Geese Wintering in Southern Texas

Habitat use and activities of wintering Canada geese (Branta canadensis), lesser snow geese (Chen c. caerulescens), and greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontinalis) were studied in Refugio County, Texas during October through February 1990-1991 and 1991-1992. Contrasting rainfall during...

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Veröffentlicht in:The Southwestern naturalist 1995-03, Vol.40 (1), p.68-75
Hauptverfasser: Ballard, Bart M., Tacha, Thomas C.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Habitat use and activities of wintering Canada geese (Branta canadensis), lesser snow geese (Chen c. caerulescens), and greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontinalis) were studied in Refugio County, Texas during October through February 1990-1991 and 1991-1992. Contrasting rainfall during the two study seasons appeared to affect food availability, habitat use, and number of geese observed. Nearly 7 times more geese were recorded during the wet winter of 1991-1992 than during the dry winter of 1990-1991. Geese selectively used (P < 0.10) improved pasture during October through February 1990-1991; although geese exclusively used disced sorghum fields (69% of study area) until late November 1990, they shifted to improved pasture (3% of study area) during December through February. Sprouting vegetation was more available in disced sorghum fields during 1991-1992, when geese selectively used (P < 0.10) disced sorghum during both fall and winter. Disced sorghum was the most intensively used habitat during both winters. Percent of time spent feeding by geese did not differ (P > 0.10) among habitats; geese spent >60% of their diurnal time foraging in disced sorghum fields.
ISSN:0038-4909