All – Just wanted to say thanks for your input. I am enjoying the process
of learning and hoping I can shed some light on the subspecies of CANG/CACG
that winter in our area, and not just taking for granted that they are all
moffitti because that is what they are “supposed” to be.

Interestingly, the numbers of these smaller geese continues to climb around
here. Sat I counted over 700 CANG loafing/preening at the Pocatello Water
Pollution Control Plant pond. At LEAST 50 were these smaller birds. I
especially noted a group of 6 that separated themselves from the rest of
the masses and took off as a (perhaps family) group.

Part of my thought process about these possibly being parvipes birds is
that the range maps in Baldassare’s Ducks, Geese, and Swans of NA (the
update to the famous Frank Bellrose tome) shows parvipes wintering in all
of ID, but the SE. In contrast, the map for Taverner’s CACG show them
wintering in far west OR/WA. Thus, it would seem to be that the closer
wintering population would be more likely to show up here.

I did more research on Taverner’s and it underscored the size similarity w/
parvipes that has been mentioned. Coming from the east, where Richardson’s
is the typical CACG, I am used to cacklers being very small and obvious.

I’m working on the pictures, but can’t seem to get close enough to the
birds to get decent snaps. The geese around here still seem very jittery
from the waterfowl season.

I have not been able to find Krueger’s treatise on these birds. I can find
Google hits for it. But they all bring me to the Idaho Birds home page and
the article does not seem to be located there anymore. If anybody by
chance has a hard copy or some other means to see it let me know.

Thanks again!

Steven F. Kahl
Deputy Project Leader
Southeast Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex
4425 Burley Dr., Ste. A
Chubbuck, ID 83202
P (208) 237-6615 ext 112
F (208) 237-8213

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