It is not that the Snow Goose is rare. In the right place, such as along a migration route from the Arctic coast to the US and Mexico, the abundance of Snow Geese can saturate one’s eyes and ears. There is a migration route along the BC coast where the numbers can be sufficient to dull the senses.
Around here, a migrating Snow Goose is really uncommon. It gets reported now and then, probably only because it wandered far off course.
Consequently, when yesterday I was watching our local aves non grata, I was surprised to see a stranger in their midst. It was an immature Snow Goose, the first such bird I had seen here.
This first picture could not have been taken around Kootenay Lake. It is a view of Snow Geese taken along the coastal migration route (in Ladner, BC) a few winters ago. I leave the cacophony to the imagination.
Yesterday, I saw my first local Snow Goose as it hung out with a few dozen Canada Geese.
I have to say those Canadas look a little stand-offish. Or is that rather a question of framing?
Trevor, I watched them all for a while and the Snow Goose always stayed a little outside the pack. However, there is another interesting question. In January of this year I watched a White-fronted Goose also in the company of Canada Geese. So, how do these two other goose species know that they are in the company of cousins? Presumably, they don’t confuse species when mating, but nevertheless seem to recognize the Canada Goose as kin. I wonder how.