From the very first reports, Canada (not “Canadian”) geese were suspected of being the cause of the near-disaster that struck Flight 1459 seconds after it took off from New York’s La Guardia Airport, on January 15, 2009. In dramatic evidence given to investigators, the pilot and co-pilot of the US Airways jet that ditched in the Hudson River both reported seeing a formation of Canada geese as their plane was reaching an altitude of about 3,000 feet. Before they knew it, the windscreen turned dark brown and several loud thuds were heard followed by complete silence as the engines went dead. There was also a smell of something burning. In the aftermath investigation of the accident, suspicion that the “culprit” was indeed a goose (or geese) was positively confirmed.
“You wouldn’t know it to look around today, but the Canada goose was once an uncommon bird,” said wildlife biologist Chuck Sharp. “In particular, the subspecies known as the giant Canada goose was considered extinct until a few remnant populations were discovered in the early 1960s. Over-harvest and destruction of wetlands had driven them to the brink, but improved game-management practices and extensive goose re-introduction programs were started to stabilize the subspecies and today it is doing fine. Some might even say they are doing too well.”
Although it has been confirmed by DNA analysis that it was Canada geese that brought down Flight 1459, it has not been determined if the birds that struck the plane were in fact “giant”( sometimes referred to as “resident”) Canadas rather than some other sub-species. Why would it be significant what sub-species of Canada goose struck those jet engines?
“The answer,” Sharp said, “lies in the differences in migration patterns and the practices that are utilized to manage the giant Canada goose population.”
All Canada goose sub-species, according to Sharp, look very much alike. However, there is one important difference that separates the “giant” population from all the rest. While most Canada geese fly north in the spring to breed, nest, and raise their broods in Canada and in the fall migrate south to milder climates, the giant Canadas have a tendency to remain in one general location throughout the year. Managing a bird population that resides in a state or region for only a couple of months out of a year is quite different than managing one that resides there all or most of the year.
“Migrant birds are in residence in most areas during the winter, when human outdoor activities are at a minimal level and the basic needs for the birds are simply an adequate food and water supply,” Sharp explained. “Crops of winter wheat and fields of waste grain from the fall harvest provide most of these migratory birds’ needs. The needs for resident geese are more complex. With less-widespread habitat available to them in the lower 48 states, resident geese have adapted to using not only the agricultural fields, but also areas like golf courses, parks and airports as their preferred living areas. Areas such as these offer birds all that they require: food, water and protection. The large open areas of grass provide food and protection from predators, while the many ponds and lakes associated with areas of this type provides excellent nesting and brood- rearing habitat. With restricted or no hunting on many of these areas, these geese have thrived greatly over the last 20 years or so.”
With the increase of resident geese comes an increase in the number of goose/human conflicts and a reduction in the options available to the managers of the airports, golf courses and parks. These resident flocks soon become a nuisance, bringing an abundance of feathers, droppings, noise, and landscape damage. In high-density populations, geese may also transmit diseases to other animals and (because of their copious droppings) contribute to eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) of ponds and lakes, which can result in aquatic population imbalances.
“Further,” said Sharp, “the hazards to aircraft are of steadily increasing concern. Without hunting to control the growth rate of the population, managers must turn to more costly and labor intensive methods of controls such as trapping and removal, noise disturbance, or other bird- harassing techniques. Without intervention of some sort, the resident goose population will continue to increase and conflicts between man and goose will increase as well. As the days lengthen and begin to warm up man will again move outdoors and begin using the areas where giant Canada geese have set up residence. This is when the conflicts between man and goose really become most apparent.”
In Georgia, specifically, the hunting of resident Canada geese has been allowed for nearly two decades, with seasons and bag limits becoming more liberal with the passage of time. Though it is recognized that many goose populations across the state have reached nuisance proportions, hunters must remember that the Canada goose remains a protected species and may only be hunted according to rules set forth in Georgia’s migratory bird regulations. For the latest information on Georgia goose seasons and bag limits, go to www.georgiawildlife.com. Permits for other methods of controlling nuisance goose populations are available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Information pertaining to these permits, as well as applications, may be found on the USFWS website at www.fws.gov.