Quill Lake Goose not impossible, biologist says

By Anne Sanderson

Published in the Wadena News in 2005

A recent article in Wadena News attributing an undocumented species of geese to the Quill Lakes , has drawn some interest and consequently some more information.

  The information comes from former Hendonite Murray Johnson who sought information from Dan Nieman, a friend of his who serves as a wildlife biologist for the Canadian Wildlife Service.

  Although the idea is very “strange” Nieman says it is not entirely unheard of.

  “We see examples of this type of thing every once in a while and there are a number of explanations for the unusual coloration,” Nieman told The News. “Most often, if it involves large (resident) Canada geese, it is a hybrid between barnyard domestic geese and wild Canada ’s.”

Nieman says as the birds are closely related and given their close proximity to dugouts and marshes they will sometimes interbreed. Also the process is also assisted when farmers take Canada goose eggs or young from the wild and raise the geese with their own domestic varieties.

As most Canada Goose/domestic crosses are usually capable of sustained flight is not unheard of for them to leave the farm and join their wild cousins. After all, as Nieman reasons why would any bird risk getting roasted for the holidays when it has the alternative to enjoy the freedom of flying south to a nice warm climate in the winter?

Nieman says it is also not uncommon for wild geese to interbreed. It occurs quite often with the Saskatchewan ’s two white goose species (Ross’ and lesser snow geese), but can happen with most species of arctic geese.

“This can result in very unusual coloration and other physical factors depending on which species are involved,” Nieman told The News. “The only other arctic goose species which occupies the same breeding range as geese, which migrate through Saskatchewan , are Brant, but they are high arctic breeders that migrate down the coast and do not normally come inland.”

Nieman says there are other explanations such as partial albinism (lack of pigmentation in the feathers) or melanism (excessive pigmentation). However, these conditions are very uncommon, since usually they are the result of recessive genetic factors. The only true way to tell why a bird is oddly colored is through DNA testing.

Last week Lloyd Kosmachuk brought another goose to The News that he had shot near his farm east of Wadena. The goose was definitely a Canada Goose sporting dark bill and feet and well as Canada coloring. However, its head and neck were entirely white. According to Kosmachuk the goose appeared to be a loner and has been hanging around his farm since the spring. After reading the article in The News he decided to shoot it. The bird was a good size and weighed at least 12 lbs. Anyone with more information or discovering more of these birds is asked to call Wadena News.