Principal Investigator:
Dr. Michael J. Conroy, Georgia Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, D. B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia
Postdoctoral Research Associate:
Dr. Larkin A. Powell, Georgia Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, D. B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia
Funding
Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division
Objectives: Georgia has a large and growing population of resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis). This situation presents a major challenge for managers. There exists tremendous opportunity for increasing the recreational enjoyment of geese, both in the form of sustainable harvest, and in viewing by the hunting and non-hunting public. At the same time, nuisance complaints have also increased rapidly, particularly as geese become established in residential or other areas where recreational harvest is not an option. Management of this resources is hampered by a lack of essential information about the current distribution of geese, survival and reproduction rates of sub populations, and the extent to which harvest has or likely will serve as a significant population regulator. Any research and monitoring program must be directed toward acquiring the information needed to answer these questions. Monitoring and research should in turn be coupled directly to management (and vice-versa) so that the answers provided are timely and relevant.
Objectives: 1. Develop a comprehensive plan for monitoring and research of resident Canada goose populations in Georgia which will immediately begin to provide input to managers on how and where to direct management efforts. 2. Provide recommendations as to the most effective (in terms of management objectives) and cost-effective combination of surveys and research.
1. Synthesize existing data and analyses for Canada geese in Georgia into a comprehensive data base. 2. Update previous analyses with recently collected data from band recoveries, recaptures, harvest surveys, population surveys and damage reports to provide current estimates of population status, and where possible, of demographic parameters (survival and reproduction rates) and harvest rates. 3. Use existing data to develop preliminary population models to predict population trajectories and harvest under alternative state-wide and geographic and year-specific regulations. Use models to identify areas for strategic data gathering 4. Based on existing data and results of modeling exercise, develop a strategic plan for a monitoring program for Canada geese. This plan may include but is not limited to aerial and ground sample surveys to estimate population trends, age composition surveys, harvest surveys, mark-recapture/ resighting programs, and focussed studies of population ecology. 5. Integrate population and harvest surveys (4) with adaptive management program directed at meeting resource objectives optimally, while including adaptive feedback (learning) from monitoring and research programs. As one method, the program may involve establishing year- and area-specific harvest regulations in such a way as to maximize spatial and temporal contrasts between harvest rates, thus quickly determining what if any critical thresholds to harvest pressure exist. 6. Compare alternative surveys, monitoring and research approaches in terms of their effectiveness and cost efficiency.
For further information contact Michael
J. Conroy