[Tweeters] Snow Goose article

[Steve Hampton]

This is a pretty good summary of the issues with Snow Geese in the Skagit
in winter, though it raises more questions than answers. It completely
fails to mention that climate change and the greening of the Arctic has
created the goose explosion. In some regions of the North Slope, the Snow
Goose population is increasing 35% per year (every year over a 10 year
period). That implies a 20-fold population increase. Snow Geese are one
obvious piece in a world spinning into a new equilibrium.
Here's one (of many) articles on that:
https://hakaimagazine.com/news/lack-of-snow-is-ironically-helping-snow-geese/

I'm curious how many farmers have winter crops impacted, and I assume
summer crops are not impacted -- but the article was not clear on that. In
the Sacramento Valley, which also has massive numbers of Snow Geese, they
are largely concentrated on managed National Wildlife Refuges designed to
attract them, though they are also in fallow ag fields (especially flooded
rice fields after harvest and fallow corn fields).

I like the idea of farmers earning some income by creating winter
eco-tourism amenities, like parking areas and bathrooms!




On Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 11:57 AM J Christian Kessler <1northraven at gmail.com>
wrote:


> Thanks, a very well done article.  both the history and the various

> impacts on farming, land use, and development are important to think

> about.  Lots for birders and photographers to understand and think about.

>

> Chris Kessler

> Seattle

>

> On Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 9:34 AM Martha Jordan <mj.cygnus at gmail.com> wrote:

>

>> Here is a welldone, comprehensive article (lots of photos and a very

>> short video) on Snow Geese in the Skagit Valley. It covers the many issues

>> surrounding this abundant winter visitor - from tourism, birding, farming,

>> wildlife management and more.  Definitely worth reading.

>>

>>     https://www.biographic.com/washingtons-runaway-snow-geese/

>>

>> Martha Jordan

>> Everett, WA

>>

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-- 
​Steve Hampton​
Port Townsend, WA  (qatáy)
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