Arctic Goose Joint Venture
Encyclopedia
The Arctic Goose Joint Venture (AGJV) is a conservation
partnership established in 1989 between governments, organizations, and conservation groups to coordinate research and monitoring of Arctic, sub-Arctic and boreal nesting goose populations of North America
, specifically the Cackling Goose
, Canada Goose
, Emperor Goose
, Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross's Goose
, and Snow Goose
. Executing Arctic research expeditions in collaboration with partners is a primary goal of the venture, so that the logistics of such research can be coordinated efficiently. One of its main activities is to collar
geese in Canada
, the United States
, and other nearby Arctic areas, such as Wrangel Island
of Russia
.
The venture's "objective is to advance the scientific understanding and the management of North America's geese", and it operates within the framework of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
(NAWMP).
, and the United States. In Canada, the national Canadian Wildlife Service
of Environment Canada
is a participant, as is the Ministry of Natural Resources
agency of the government of Ontario
and Manitoba Conservation
, a department of the government of Manitoba. In Mexico, the Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad
and Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources are national participants. In the United States, the Fish and Wildlife Service
and the Biological Resources Division of the United States Geological Survey
are national participants. State-level participants include the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
, the Missouri Department of Conservation
, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
, North Dakota Game and Fish, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
.
Monitoring of the continental flyway
s of North America is important for this venture, which also includes participation of U.S. Flyways, and the council for the Atlantic Flyway
, Central Flyway
, Mississippi Flyway
, and Pacific Flyway
. Additionally, Ducks Unlimited
, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Ducks Unlimited Mexico (DUMAC) are non-governmental organization
s participating in the venture.
These birds are common in the Pacific and Central flyways, rarely seen in the Atlantic flyway, and sometimes seen in the Mississippi flyway.
As a result of conservation measures prepared under the auspices of the AGJV, the main measure proposed in 1998 was "the implementation of a spring harvest in Québec" for the Snow Goose, considered "an exceptional measure in North America since the signing of the Migratory Bird Convention Act
in 1916", and a liberalisation of hunting regulations for autumn Quebec harvest and United States winter harvests. The Snow Goose had experienced significant human-induced population increases since the mid-20th century as a result of using farmlands as a source of food, which resulted in improved nutrition and increased reproduction, so that migratory staging areas and breeding grounds were strained to support the growing flocks. Grazing and grubbing by the geese removed vegetation from these areas and changed soil salinity. These actions were recommended to stabilise the Snow Goose population by 2002, and included doubling the annual harvest to 24% of the population with spring hunts and increased quotas. The first spring hunt since 1916 was held in 1999.
Since 1972, Environment Canada
has issued annual licences to hunters in a draw from registrations received for hunting at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area during most of October. Lure crops have also been planted at Cap Tourmente in order "to reduce the grazing pressure caused by the Greater Snow Goose on the bulrush marsh as well as on the region's farmlands".
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
partnership established in 1989 between governments, organizations, and conservation groups to coordinate research and monitoring of Arctic, sub-Arctic and boreal nesting goose populations of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, specifically the Cackling Goose
Cackling Goose
The Cackling Goose is a North American bird of the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species....
, Canada Goose
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, Emperor Goose
Emperor Goose
The Emperor Goose is a species of goose. It breeds around the Bering Sea, mostly in Alaska, USA, but also in Kamchatka, Russia...
, Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross's Goose
Ross's Goose
The Ross's Goose is a North American species of goose.The American Ornithologists' Union places this species and the other two "white" geese in the genus Chen rather than the more traditional "grey" goose genus Anser.This goose breeds in northern Canada, mainly in the Queen Maud Gulf Migratory...
, and Snow Goose
Snow Goose
The Snow Goose , also known as the Blue Goose, is a North American species of goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The genus of this bird is disputed...
. Executing Arctic research expeditions in collaboration with partners is a primary goal of the venture, so that the logistics of such research can be coordinated efficiently. One of its main activities is to collar
Tracking collar
Tracking collars are collars used as a radio beacon to track animal migration for research. Some pet owners use these collars for GPS tracking and geofencing of their pets....
geese in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and other nearby Arctic areas, such as Wrangel Island
Wrangel Island
Wrangel Island is an island in the Arctic Ocean, between the Chukchi Sea and East Siberian Sea. Wrangel Island lies astride the 180° meridian. The International Date Line is displaced eastwards at this latitude to avoid the island as well as the Chukchi Peninsula on the Russian mainland...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
The venture's "objective is to advance the scientific understanding and the management of North America's geese", and it operates within the framework of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
North American Waterfowl Management Plan
The North American Waterfowl Management Plan is an international plan to conserve waterfowl and migratory birds in North America. It was established in 1986 by Canada and the United States, and expanded to include Mexico in 1994....
(NAWMP).
Partnership
Participants in the project include national and sub-national government agencies and departments in Canada, MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and the United States. In Canada, the national Canadian Wildlife Service
Canadian Wildlife Service
The Canadian Wildlife Service or CWS is a branch of the Department of the Environment, also known as Environment Canada, a department of the Government of Canada....
of Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
is a participant, as is the Ministry of Natural Resources
Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)
The Ministry of Natural Resources is a government ministry of the Canadian province of Ontario that responsible for Ontario’s provincial parks, forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates and the Crown lands and waters that make up 87 per cent of the province...
agency of the government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
and Manitoba Conservation
Manitoba Conservation
Manitoba Conservation is a department of the Government of Manitoba. It oversees environmental stewardship, species at risk, forestry, and related matters. The department is overseen by the Minister of Conservation, Bill Blaikie....
, a department of the government of Manitoba. In Mexico, the Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad
Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad
The National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity is a permanent interdepartmental commission, created in 1992. The President of the commission is the head of the Federal Executive, C. Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. The Technical Secretary is the head of the Secretariat of Environment and...
and Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources are national participants. In the United States, the Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
and the Biological Resources Division of the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
are national participants. State-level participants include the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is a state agency of Louisiana that maintains state parks and wildlife and fishery areas. The agency has its headquarters in Baton Rouge.-External links:*...
, the Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Conservation Commission were created by Article IV Sections 40-42 of the Missouri Constitution, which were adopted by the voters of the state in 1936 as Amendment 4 to the constitution...
, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is a government agency in the state of Maryland charged with maintaining natural resources such as the 66 state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, wildlife and recreation areas....
, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is a public agency of the government of the State of Nebraska in the United States. The commission is charged with stewardship of the state's fish, wildlife, state park, and outdoor recreation resources. The commission is also charged with issuing of state...
, North Dakota Game and Fish, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for programs protecting Oregon fish and wildlife resources and their habitats....
.
Monitoring of the continental flyway
Flyway
A flyway is a flight path used in bird migration. Flyways generally span over continents and often oceans.-Flyways of the Americas:*Atlantic Flyway*Central Flyway*Mississippi Flyway*Pacific Flyway*Allegheny Front...
s of North America is important for this venture, which also includes participation of U.S. Flyways, and the council for the Atlantic Flyway
Atlantic Flyway
The Atlantic Flyway is a bird migration route that generally follows the Atlantic Coast of North America and the Appalachian Mountains. The main endpoints of the flyway include the Canadian Maritimes and the region surrounding the Gulf of Mexico; the migration route tends to narrow considerably in...
, Central Flyway
Central Flyway
The Central Flyway is a bird migration route that generally follows the Great Plains in the United States and Canada. The main endpoints of the flyway include central Canada and the region surrounding the Gulf of Mexico; the migration route tends to narrow considerably in the Platte River and...
, Mississippi Flyway
Mississippi Flyway
The Mississippi Flyway is a bird migration route that generally follows the Mississippi River in the United States and the Mackenzie River in Canada. The main endpoints of the flyway include central Canada and the region surrounding the Gulf of Mexico...
, and Pacific Flyway
Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south route of travel for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to...
. Additionally, Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. It currently has approximately 780,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada.-Introduction:Ducks Unlimited was...
, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Ducks Unlimited Mexico (DUMAC) are non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s participating in the venture.
Projects
Collaring of geese and tracking them is an important aspect of the program. The geese are collared with a coloured band having a stylised three-character code, the first large and vertical, and the other two smaller and horizontal. For records, the vertical character is listed first. The collaring scheme is:| Species | Collar colour | Location |
|---|---|---|
| small Canada Goose Canada Goose The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body.... and Cackling Goose Cackling Goose The Cackling Goose is a North American bird of the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species.... |
Orange | Eastern Canadian Arctic |
| Yellow | Western and Central Canadian Arctic | |
| Greater White-fronted Goose | Red | Alaska and Western Canadian Arctic |
| Blue | Central Canadian Arctic | |
| Lesser Snow Goose/Blue Goose Snow Goose The Snow Goose , also known as the Blue Goose, is a North American species of goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The genus of this bird is disputed... |
Black | Western Canadian Arctic |
| Blue | Alaska | |
| Green | Eastern Canadian Arctic | |
| Red | Wrangel Island Wrangel Island Wrangel Island is an island in the Arctic Ocean, between the Chukchi Sea and East Siberian Sea. Wrangel Island lies astride the 180° meridian. The International Date Line is displaced eastwards at this latitude to avoid the island as well as the Chukchi Peninsula on the Russian mainland... , Russia; La Perouse Bay, Churchill Churchill, Manitoba Churchill is a town on the shore of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. It is most famous for the many polar bears that move toward the shore from inland in the autumn, leading to the nickname "Polar Bear Capital of the World" that has helped its growing tourism industry.-History:A variety of nomadic... , Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
|
| Yellow | Central Canadian Arctic | |
| Ross's Goose Ross's Goose The Ross's Goose is a North American species of goose.The American Ornithologists' Union places this species and the other two "white" geese in the genus Chen rather than the more traditional "grey" goose genus Anser.This goose breeds in northern Canada, mainly in the Queen Maud Gulf Migratory... |
Pale Blue | Central Canadian Arctic/Quebec |
| Yellow | Eastern Canadian Arctic |
These birds are common in the Pacific and Central flyways, rarely seen in the Atlantic flyway, and sometimes seen in the Mississippi flyway.
Impact
In October 1995, the AGJV was advised by a group of 50 scientists during the Arctic Goose Joint Venture Technical Committee and Management Board Meetings "to develop a scientific approach to the problem of habitat degradation" caused by an over-abundant goose population.As a result of conservation measures prepared under the auspices of the AGJV, the main measure proposed in 1998 was "the implementation of a spring harvest in Québec" for the Snow Goose, considered "an exceptional measure in North America since the signing of the Migratory Bird Convention Act
Migratory Birds Convention Act
The Migratory Birds Convention Act is a Canadian law established in 1917 and significantly updated in June 1994 which contains regulations to protect migratory birds, their eggs, and their nests from hunting, trafficking and commercialization...
in 1916", and a liberalisation of hunting regulations for autumn Quebec harvest and United States winter harvests. The Snow Goose had experienced significant human-induced population increases since the mid-20th century as a result of using farmlands as a source of food, which resulted in improved nutrition and increased reproduction, so that migratory staging areas and breeding grounds were strained to support the growing flocks. Grazing and grubbing by the geese removed vegetation from these areas and changed soil salinity. These actions were recommended to stabilise the Snow Goose population by 2002, and included doubling the annual harvest to 24% of the population with spring hunts and increased quotas. The first spring hunt since 1916 was held in 1999.
Since 1972, Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Environment Canada , legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment Canada (EC) (French: Environnement Canada), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act Environment...
has issued annual licences to hunters in a draw from registrations received for hunting at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area during most of October. Lure crops have also been planted at Cap Tourmente in order "to reduce the grazing pressure caused by the Greater Snow Goose on the bulrush marsh as well as on the region's farmlands".