Published By US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Issued over 9 years ago
Summary
Description
Surveys were conducted in June and August at Little Kiska Island to look for Aleutian Canada geese Branta Canadensis leucopareia returning from previous translocations and to monitor the fate of birds released on the island in fall 1990. Two nesting pairs were found in June, the first known for over 60 years at Little Kiska. One nest produced 3 goslings and the other contained 3 infertile eggs. In addition, 5 other adult geese 2 pairs, 1 single were observed in spring. TweJ1tyfive geese were translocated from Buldir Island to Little Kiska I. on August 7, and subsequent observations indicated that there was high survival. No predation on geese by bald eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus was noted in 1990 in contrast to the situation in 1988 and 1989 when bald eagle predation was a major mortality factor. Factors possibly contributing to low predation rates include: the prevalence of dense fog, the presence of experienced geese those nesting and summering at Little Kiska, the short period between release and flight capability, the presence of large numbers of young gulls a buffer prey for eagles, and the relatively small numbers of geese.