D. H. Rusch

We banded 1,987 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) at Ballard Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Kentucky 1974 - 81. Additionally we observed 1,459 neckbanded individuals at Ballard WMA 1977 - 81 and obtained 11,649 observations of these individuals in the Mississippi Flyway. Analysis of these observations and 195 hunting recoveries indicated a strong association between Ballard WMA and Wisconsin. Average annual survival was estimated as 72% for geese banded at Ballard WMA 1974 - 79. Of 783 movements between refuges in southern Illinois and Ballard WMA, 73% were movements into Kentucky. Sixty...

Personnel of 6 National Wildlife Refuges in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee captured and neckbanded 1,462 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in 1977-80. Of these, 728 individuals were observed 1,430 times in the Mississippi Flyway. These observations and 44 hunting recoveries indicated that geese from the 6 refuges had varying degrees of association with both the Mississippi Valley Population and the Eastern Prairie Population. Geese banded at White River refuge tended to show greater affiliation with the Eastern Prairie Population than did geese banded at 3 other refuges.