Movements, productivity, and band recovery analysis of giant Canada geese in eastern South Dakota

Populations of giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) have increased dramatically in eastern South Dakota, and a September hunting season was implemented in 1996 in an effort to decrease the resident Canada goose population. Study objectives were to determine the post-molt movements (particularly in relation to the September hunting season), band recovery analysis, productivity, and extent of molt migrations of resident giant Canada geese in eastern South Dakota. Geese were studied using satellite and VHF transmitters and from leg band recoveries during 2000-04. Canada geese were captured during their summer molting period and a total of 148 VHF and 41 satellite transmitters were fitted on adult, female geese with broods, and 3,839 geese were leg banded. Forty-five percent of all marked geese made significant post-molt movements (i.e., > 40 km prior to fall freeze-up), primarily in a northerly direction (57%). Forty-six percent of the marked geese that made significant movements moved prior to the start of the September hunting season, while 43% moved during the first week of the September season. Program MARK was used in band recovery analysis. The annual survival rate for adult geese averaged (+/- SE) 0.523 +/- 0.034 and 0.676 +/- 0.056 for geese banded as locals. Recovery rate estimates averaged 0.160 +/- 0.017 for adults and 0.178 +/- 0.018 for geese banded as locals. Forty-six percent of the total band recoveries were harvested during the September hunting season. Telemetry of VHF marked females during the breeding season indicated that 56% of nonbreeding, 81% of unsuccessful, and 19% of successful females embarked on a molt migration. Satellite telemetry documented a 2,080 km molt migration by an unsuccessful nester, and indirect band recoveries indicated a broad distribution of probable molting areas to the north. This study clearly demonstrated that South Dakota resident geese are making considerable post-molt movements and are increasingly involved in long-distance molt migrations. Management strategies need to incorporate these redistributions of geese from molt migrations and post-molt movements.