IMIS

The breeding grounds of this population are on Wrangel Island, Russia. Because Wrangel Island snow geese represent the last major snow goose population breeding in Asia, and the primary Russian goose population that winters in North America, it is a high priority for the Pacific Flyway and the subject of long standing international cooperative management and conservation. Data collected since the early 1970s on Wrangel Island indicates that the population has grown in abundance, become younger, and changed its behavior relative to traditional habitat and resources. These population changes have become more apparent since the early 1990s and appear to be in response to warmer spring conditions, earlier snowmelt, and changes in the predator community on Wrangel Island. Some of these changes are also evident in the NPS wintering population where the total overwintering population size has increased. Particular questions that we hope to answer include: - When do geese depart and return to NPS during spring and fall migration? - Where are important flyway use areas during migration? - When and how long do geese use areas along migration routes? - Document inter and/or intra-year interchange among NPS and other wintering areas. - Do some geese that use NPS move to other locations within the flyway during the same winter or among different years? - If NPS geese are moving to other locations, what is the timing of emigration and potential return to NPS?