The Effect Weather has on Canadian Geese's Use of Different Zones in Vilas Park

Maiwa Lor, Karli Keithahn, and Jimy Landwehr

Background Geese Information

Introduction

• The population of Canada Geese residing at Vilas Park is an ongoing issue to local residents who occupy the park for recreational use. 
•  Canada Geese that we see in Wisconsin are part of the Mississippi Valley Population, Branta Canadensis interior (Wisconsinbirds.org).
•  Canada geese are present in Wisconsin in the fall, winter and spring months.
•  The goal of this project was to determine what the pattern of the geese population is at Vilas Park, specifically looking at how the weather affects how the geese use the different zones in the park.

Methods

•  We counted the number of geese in different delineated zones in Vilas Park (Madison, WI) each week during the months of September, October, and November of 2008. 
• We counted the geese population between the late morning and early afternoon hours, while recording the number of geese in each zone.
• The data that we collected consisted of the following: number of geese in Vilas Park, the temperature at the time of collection, and any specific details about the weather conditions.
• To analyze our data we compared the temperature with the number of geese found on land versus the number of geese found in the water each day. 

Results

• In September, when we began our research, we noticed that the geese tended to be mostly in zone 6. 
•  In November when the temperature got colder, we noticed that the geese tended to be mostly in zones 2 and 6.
•  The cold wind during the fall season was a contributing factor to the cold weather that attracted a high population of geese to the park.
•  After evaluating our counts and looking at our weather observations we concluded that if it was a cold day with cold wind, there was a high population of geese present.

Figure 1.  Land zones vs. Water zones

Figure 2. Percentage of Geese Population in Water Zones

Figure 3.  Number of Geese vs. Temperature

Figure 4.  Total Number of Geese in Vilas Park

Conclusions

• There was a higher total population of geese present when the weather was cold.  On warmer days, fewer geese were present.
•  The highest population of geese was present on land than water (before the water froze).
•  When the weather was calm and warm, there was a lower population of geese in the park. 
•  Regardless of the weather being cold or warm, there were a small percentage of geese present in the water zones.
•  The colder it got later in the autumn season, there was a huge increase in geese population until there was an accumulation of snow.

Summary

Due to the fact that Vilas Park seems to be a convenient home for the Canada geese during the warmer months of the year, understanding the effects that time of day and temperature have on the geese location may be necessary to civilians when planning activities occurring at Vilas Park.

References

1)  Weather.com.

2)  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  http://www.dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/bird/goose.htm.  Retrieved February 4, 2009.

3)  Wisconsinbirds.org.  Retrieved February 4, 2009.

4)  Craven, S. R. & Heinrich, J. (1996).  Canada Geese Crop Damage.  http://learningstore.uwex.edu/pdf/G3299.pdf Retrieved February 4, 2009.

5)  Lorman, Jim, Edgewood College and Friends of Lake Wingra (May 2003).  Giant Canada Geese in the Wingra Watershed:  A Preliminary Report.

Full Geese Study Report