When the mercury drops and the first flakes fly, they wing in from the far north. A quick glance persuaded me it was a pair of swans. A closer look revealed creatures far more unusual, at least in Fairfield County. The animals in question grazed on the late fall grass along the edge of the pond.
Due to their unpredictable visits to the Nutmeg State, Snow Geese, Chen caerulescens, are always a memorable sight. With its compact build, snowwhite plumage, black wing tips, and pink bill and legs, the Snow Goose stands out among its familiar Canada Goose kin, which it frequently accompanies. Breeding in the Arctic tundra, these birds migrate south in late fall and early w inter, foraging for tubers, roots and dried grasses along wetlands, agricultural fields, and marshes across Canada and much of the United States.
Hunted to near extinction to just a few thousand birds by the early 1900’s, Snow Geese were given full federal protection. Like many species, that protection led to a rebound in numbers. Aided by the adaptability of the birds, which widened their food choices from wetland grasses and tubers to include agricultural crops and their roots, the population exploded. As a result, this North American species is thriving among the west coast, east coast, and mid-continental populations and today approaches 20 million birds!
With two main recognized subspecies, as well as a less common “blue” phase which exhibits beautiful silvery-gray plumage occurring in both, the Snow Goose exhibits variations on a theme of remarkable success. Specifically, that success is of a superbly adapted Arctic species with the adaptability to range far south of its northern breeding grounds above the treeline in the vast tundra.
Designed by nature to exploit the extremely limited Arctic spring and withstand the ravages of deadly weather, Snow Goose goslings hatch with bodies completely covered with down and their eyes wide open, unlike their more southerly kin. These tiny subpolar hatchlings can venture out from their nests to walk, feed, swim, and dive within just hours of hatching. Their voracious feeding is essential in enabling them to gain more than a quarter pound of vital weight each day. To fuel their rapidly growing bodies, Snow Goose goslings can accompany their parents more than 50 miles from their nest site within just three weeks of hatching!
Another attribute of Snow Goose parental behavior fosters protection for the little ones. While each pair aggressively guards their nest territory, expecting mothers will roll the eggs of trespassing pairs into their nests and raise the young as their own, thereby ensuring protection for greater numbers of young and aiding the survival of the entire flock.
The form of the Snow Goose is perfectly designed for life on the forbidding tundra. With a length of 27- 33 inches and a weight of 4.5-9 pounds, these Arctic waterfowl are compact to conserve vital body heat in an unforgiving environment. With its legs positioned centrally beneath its body, the Snow Goose can navigate the barren ground and shallow waters of the Arctic in summer with great balance and agility. The serrations lining the edge of its bill enable it to readily dig up and cut up roots and tubers, accessible in the Arctic soil. The primary feathers forming its trademark black wingtips are reinforced and can withstand tremendous stresses—a key attribute for birds making migrations of up to 5,000 miles (about twice the width of the United States) between their nesting grounds and their winter range.
While smaller family groups typically disperse throughout Connecticut, Snow Geese of all subspecies tend to form massive flocks of up to several hundred thousand birds along main stop overs of their three continental migration routes. Putting the term, “safety in numbers” to the test, these huge congregations of birds may attract predators but, through their sheer size, can simultaneously withstand such predation.
As is often the case with nature’s creatures, their adaptability to a human-influenced landscape can create challenges. With the birds’ booming populations shifting gears to feed off agricultural lands, the Snow Goose’s feeding habit of uprooting can destroy valuable crops. Our challenge lies in balancing the welfare of a population of superbly adapted creatures with the needs of human populations.
Late fall and early spring in New Englandare times of spectacular natural change. In the weeks ahead, as you stroll, hike, or kayak the land and waters of coastal Connecticut, keep a sharp eye out for the brilliant white birds amid flocks of Canada Geese. A rare sight decades ago, the presence of the Snow Goose is both a welcome visit of our neighbors from the far north and sure sign that, with a little help, nature will endure.
Jim Knox is Curator of Education at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo where he directs education and conservation initiatives to advance the protection of wildlife in Connecticut and beyond.
