Breeding and Non-Breeding Range of Canada, <em>Branta canadensis</em>, and Cackling Geese, <em>Branta hutchinsii</em>, in the Eastern Canadian Arctic

Abstract

The accepted breeding distribution of Canada Geese from the Atlantic Population (Branta canadensis interior) in the eastern Canadian Arctic is currently confined to northern Québec and the south coast of Baffin Island. Here we provide evidence based on observations from scientific studies, Inuit hunters, and territorial Wildlife Officers that B. c. interior now breeds in growing numbers 500 km farther north on northeastern Baffin Island than previously reported. Cackling Geese (B. hutchinsii), which breed more widely across eastern Arctic Canada, to about 72°N, may also be increasing there. Moreover, individuals of both species are seen occasionally as far north as Ellesmere Island in small flocks and within migrating or moulting flocks of Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens) or Brant (B. bernicla hrota), though none of these far northern stragglers are known to have bred. Whether these observations reflect a recent range expansion or improved distributional knowledge from more intensive recent survey efforts remains unknown.

Nesting by Canada Geese on Baffin Island, Nunavut

“…This account provides conclusive evidence to support earlier observations of nesting by Canada Geese in the eastern Arctic of North America (e.g., Sutton, 1932;Soper, 1946;Cooch, 1977;Mallory et al, 2005). As far as we know, this is the northernmost confirmed nesting record for Canada Geese in North America.…”

“…Norment et al (1999) reported observations of Canada Geese accompanied by goslings in the forest-tundra transition between 62.4˚ N, 104.8˚ W and 64.6˚ N, 100.5˚ W and mentioned separately that a small subspecies nested in this area on cliffs along the Clarke River, but they did not provide any other information. Mallory et al (2005) reported anecdotal evidence of nesting (large-bodied) Canada Geese from several locations on Baffin Island that was based on observations by Inuit hunters, wildlife officers, and scientific investigators. Despite numerous observations, there was no conclusive scientific evidence (e.g., photographs, measurements of adult geese or their eggs, genetic materials collected from eggs, nests, or pre-fledging goslings) to verify that Canada Geese, and not Cackling Geese, had nested in any of these cases.…”