#65-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Cackling Goose

HOW MANY: 1

REPORTER: Charles Swift
414 S. Lincoln St.
Moscow ID 83843

REPORTER EMAIL: chaetura@gmail.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 7/7/2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 1/16/2006

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Spokane River, Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai Co., just east of the UI center and west of the mill.

HABITAT: grassy area above shoreline

CONDITIONS: This individual was observed on and off over a period of 15-20 minutes while I studied a group of ~30 (mostly) Canada Geese. Viewing conditions were good. It was pt. cloudy and cold. Optics were primarily a Nikon Fieldscope ED w/ 15-45X eyepiece. A Canon digicam was used for digiscoping.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, during the observation

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: No, not at all

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Mostly various web resources as none of the standard field guides covered this species at the time. ** note - although I took notes at the time they are not available at this time, however, I believe the photos are sufficient (if there are questions I can locate my notes for additional detail).

DESCRIPTION: A very small white-cheeked (i.e. Canada-like) goose with a stubby, triangular bill, steep forehead, and dark breast. I'm fairly certain this is a "minima" subspecies Cackling Goose.

BEHAVIOR: The bird was foraging and loafing with a small group of mixed "white-cheeked" Geese. Most of these were presumed to be the common Branta canadensis sub-species, "moffitti", but also present were likely some Lesser Canada Geese (Branta canadensis parvipes) and possibly another Cackling Goose.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? I knew immediately upon observing this individual that it was likely a Cackling Goose. The very small size, head and bill structure are diagnostic. I made sure to obtain decent photo images for further study w/ online resources.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Canada Goose is eliminated based by size, bill shape and structure (The latter eliminates possibility of a "runt" but a Canada Goose this small would be extraordinary!).

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): At that time I had seen a few and was aware of the smaller C. Goose subspecies. I had also been following discussions on identifying the species since the split.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: Have been birding for 32 years, most seriously the last 15 years.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photos