By Dane Gibson
With the help of an intrepid group of volunteers, Vancouver Island University biology student Stew Pearce was able to successfully collar and band 200 Canada geese as part of an undergraduate research project to evaluate their abundance, distribution and movement around Nanaimo.
The geese now sport highly visible white collars around their necks that display three numbers and the letter ‘P’. While Pearce will be working to monitor their movements well into wintertime, a website has been set up for the public to help by reporting the date and location of collared geese sightings, along with the information displayed on the collar.
“Without the website the general public wouldn’t be able to report when they see the collared birds so we really want to get the word out that there is a website for them to do that,” said Pearce. “The information will be used to generate maps showing the movements of the geese within Nanaimo and beyond. With the public’s help we will be able to add the data they provide to our other monitoring efforts which will be used to inform future management plans.”
VIU biology professor Eric Demers is supervising the project. He says Canada geese are not native breeders on Vancouver Island. The birds that are here year-round are descendants of geese that were introduced in the 1970s in an effort to improve wildlife viewing and sport hunting opportunities on the Island.
The City of Nanaimo provided collars, snow fencing and equipment as well as technical support. Kevin Brydges, environmental protection officer for Nanaimo, says communities across the Island are working on management plans. Together they are in the process of forming a regional management committee to share information and work together on the issue.
Pearce wants to remind people that Canada geese can be aggressive, so if you see a collared goose and can’t immediately see the numbers stamped on the collar, stay a safe distance away and never try to touch or handle the birds.
To report a sighting, please visit https://wordpress.viu.ca/gooseproject/.
Dane Gibson is a writer with VIU’s communications department.