Routes and timing of migration of lesser snow geese from the Western Canadian Arctic and Wrangel Island, Russia, 1987-1992

Routes and timing of migration and philopatry to staging and wintering areas of lesser snow geese Anser caerulescens from the Western Canadian Arctic and Wrangel, Island, Russia, were determined from geese neckbanded on nesting areas and observed on migration and wintering areas from 1987 to 1992. Snow geese from the Western Arctic staged on the Arctic coast of the western Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory, and northeastern Alaskaa in early fall and migrated from there to the prairies of southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. From there, 80% migrated to the Klamath Basin and Central Valley of California, some stopping in Montana along the way. A small number wintered in southern California's Imperial Valley, and the remainder followed an interior path to the Western Central Flyway. During spring migration, Western Arctic snow geese reversed their fall routes. Most snow geese from Wrangel Island apparently followed a Pacific route to reach their winter destinations in British Columbia-Washington and California. Small numbers migrated south via the prairies. In spring, most of the south-wintering Wrangel Island birds returned north via the prairies. Timing of migration was similar for the two nesting populations except in fall, when Western Arctic geese seemed to arrive earlier and stay later in AB-SK and Wrangel Island geese arrived on average perhaps two weeks earlier in eastern Oregon. Both sexes were highly philopatric to wintering areas from year to year, with 96-97% of the geese sighted in consecutive years being in the same area.