Timeline

In 2018, the USFWS responded to the Pacific Flyway’s 2016 inquiry about pursuing conservation order regulations. The Service supported increasing bag limits within the regular season and use of other current management tools to reduce damage concerns and provided some suggestions regarding data synthesis and acquisition and possible paths forward for modifying regulations under the NEPA process.

In Canada, special measures were implemented in the Yukon Territory in 2016.

In Canada, special measures were implemented in the Northwest Territories and Alberta in 2015.

The AGJV Position Statement Regarding Overabundant Light Geese was released in 2015, following a Structured Decision Making Workshop held in 2014.

Surveys of Nesting Lesser Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese in Arctic Canada, 2002 – 2009 was published by the AGJV

In 2013, the Pacific Flyway Council prepared and approved the Pacific Flyway Management Plan for the Western Arctic Population of Lesser Snow Geese. The most recent goose management plans can be accessed through the AGJV website at: https://www.agjv.ca/related-links/

In follow-up to the distribution of the Evaluation of Special Management Measures for Midcontinent Lesser Snow geese and Ross’s geese publication, several letters of correspondence ensued among the Arctic Goose Joint Venture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service, the Central Flyway Council, and the Mississippi Flyway Council regarding the most appropriate path forward for continued management of light geese. This led to a special Structured Decision Making Workshop led by the AGJV in 2014.

In 2009, the Atlantic Flyway Council prepared and approved the Management Plan for Greater Snow Geese in the Atlantic Flyway. The most recent goose management plans can be accessed through the AGJV website at: https://www.agjv.ca/related-links/

The Evaluation of the Special Conservation Measures for the Greater Snow Geese: Report of the Greater Snow Goose Working Group, was published by the AGJV in 2007.

In 2006, the Pacific Flyway Council prepared and approved the Management Plan for the Wrangel Island Population of Lesser Snow Geese. The most recent goose management plans can be accessed through the AGJV website at: https://www.agjv.ca/related-links/

In Canada, special measures were implemented in Saskatchewan and Nunavut in 2001.

March 2001 – The Status Of Ross’s Geese: Report of the Arctic Goose Joint Venture Ross’s Gooose Subcommittee was published by the AGJV.

In Canada, special measures were first implemented in Quebec and Manitoba in 1999.

In 1999, Conservation Order Regulations were implemented in the U.S. These new regulations allowed for harvest of light geese outside of the hunting season dates established in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1916. The Humane Society of the United States filed for an injunction in federal court to stop the Conservation Order. The CO was not stopped for that season but was withdrawn for future years until the Environmental Impact Statement could be completed.

October 1998 – The AGJV produced a detailed report on the science needs for management of overabundant snow geese in October 1998. The report included recommendations for improved evaluation and monitoring of light goose populations, habitat, and the impacts of management actions.

February 1998 – A Stakeholders Working Group established by AFWA to conduct an independent review of the Arctic Ecosystems in Peril, produced a report that supported the findings in the “Perils” report. The 12 member stakeholders group included the Inuvialuit Game Council, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Humane Society of the United States. The report contained a section with the dissenting view of the HSUS.

At the 9th North American Arctic Goose Conference held in January of 1998, a special session was held to discuss overabundant light geese. Ducks Unlimited previewed their ‘Snow Geese in Peril’ video, which was followed by a full color photo book.

In 1997, effective communications was identified as mandatory to the successful implementation of any light goose management actions. DJCase and Associates was contracted to develop a strategy to educate and inform government decision makers, the media, and the public on this complex issue. As part of the communications strategy, three tours of the La Perouse Bay snow goose colony were organized and attended by U.S. and Canada national conservation leaders and members of the press.

January 1997 – Arctic Ecosystems in Peril: Report of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group, was published by the AGJV. The report included a description of the population and habitat problems and issues, analysis of population dynamics, review of potential management strategies, discussion of evaluations, and recommendations for action.

December 1995 – The United States and Canada signed the Amending Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in the United States and Canada. The Amending Protocol allowed the taking of birds for management purposes without day and date restrictions. The Amending instructions were exchanged in October 1999. The U.S. Senate ratified the agreement in October of 1997. It came into force in Canada in October, 1999.

March 1995 – The Central Flyway Council, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Executive Council and Migratory Wildlife Committee all pass and forward recommendations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service to “establish an independent international committee comprised of appropriate experts to explore and recommend management actions.”

In 1992 the Pacific Flyway Council prepared and approved the Management Plan for Ross’s Geese. The most recent goose management plans can be accessed through the AGJV website at: https://www.agjv.ca/related-links/

In 1992, the Pacific Flyway Council prepared and approved the Management Plan for the Wrangel Island Population of Lesser Snow Geese. The most recent goose management plans can be accessed through the AGJV website at: https://www.agjv.ca/related-links/

The AGJV partnership was formally established and a Prospectus was developed in 1989. The AGJV Prospectus identified habitat destruction by light geese as one of the issues to be addressed.

The Arctic Goose Joint Venture (AGJV) was established as one of the first joint ventures under NAWMP in 1986. The AGJV was established to facilitate research and monitoring of Arctic-nesting geese.

In 1982, the Central Flyway Council adopted management guidelines for snow and Ross’s geese in the Western Central Flyway. The most recent goose management plans can be accessed through the AGJV website at: https://www.agjv.ca/related-links/

In 1981, the Atlantic Flyway Council prepared and approved the Greater Snow Goose Management Plan. The most recent goose management plans can be accessed through the AGJV website at: https://www.agjv.ca/related-links/

The first photo-survey on Banks Island was conducted in 1976.

In north Alaska, a small snow goose breeding colony was discovered in 1971 at Howe Island; breeding snow geese on Alaska’s Arctic Coastal Plain numbered 20,000-30,000 in the late 2010s.

La Perouse Field Studies began in 1968. In 1995, the project was expanded to the Hudson Bay Project to take a broader approach to light goose and ecosystem issues.

Greater Snow Goose spring survey, CWS – 1965 to present

Comprehensive Federal harvest surveys begin in the 1960s, which have provided valuable data for understanding the effects of hunting regulations on light goose harvests, patterns and changes in hunters and harvest distribution, and population dynamics of light geese. Federal harvest surveys consist of Diary/Questionnaire Surveys to estimate total goose harvest and Parts/Species Collection Surveys to estimate species- and age-specific harvests. This figure shows midcontinent light goose harvest in the U.S. and Canada during the regular waterfowl season and under special/Conservation Order regulations.

Charles MacInnes established a research study at McConnell River, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut) in 1958 on small Canada geese and expanded it to a snow goose study in 1964 which ran continuously until 1975. The project produced seminal work on the ecology of both species, and for snow geese these include the energetics of breeding, feeding ecology, family and social behaviour, and interchange of individuals among colonies.

In 1952, Graham Cooch established the first modern studies of the breeding biology of snow geese. He conducted ground studies on the west coast of Hudson Bay, Southampton Island, and Baffin Island. He pioneered the study of almost every aspect of their biology, including color morphs, genetics, pairing and reproductive behaviour, annual variation and habitats. He conducted the first quantitative surveys of lesser snow goose population size in the eastern arctic and he adapted Inuit techniques for summer harvest of flightless geese to the purpose of mass banding for studies of migration and winter distribution.

A small colony of nesting snow geese at Cape Henrietta Maria was reported by Robert Smith in 1944 and photographed by Harold Hanson in 1947. Smith also reported nesting on Akimiski Island, in southern James Bay, at the same time. The Cape Henrietta Maria colony is the largest aggregation of snow geese in southern Hudson Bay and the Akimiski colony is the southernmost snow goose colony in the world.

On 30 June 1938 Angus Gavin (1947) recorded the first nesting colony of 100 Ross’s Geese at a small lake (now called Discovery Lake, at 67˚ 33′ N, 101˚ 49′ O) 14 miles southeast of the Perry River estuary.

Blue Goose nesting grounds at Bowman Bay, Baffin Island discovered by Dewey Soper in 1929 – 6 year, 30,000 mile expedition

Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA) is passed into law in Canada to implement the Migratory Birds Convention in 1917.