Dusky Canada Goose – State Wildlife Action Plan

The Dusky Canada Goose (Branta canadensis occidentalis) is one of four subspecies of Canada Geese occurring in Oregon. They are a medium to large goose, with males averaging 3.2kg and are typically 18% heavier than females. Plumage is identical between the sexes. Unlike most other subspecies of Canada Geese, Dusky Canada Geese are characterized by very dark brown plumage, including the breast. Often the breast is so dark brown that differentiation between the breast and the black neck is difficult to discern in the field. Dusky Canada Geese principally breed on Alaska’s Copper River Delta and winter among the wetlands and agricultural fields Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Overview

Species Common Name Dusky Canada Goose
Species Scientific Name Branta canadensis occidentalis
State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Coast Range and on the east by the Cascade Range. This long mostly level alluvial plain has some scattered areas of low basalt, and contrasts with productive farmland and large urban areas. It has the fastest-growing human population in the state resulting in challenges due to land-use changes.

Nearshore

The Nearshore ecoregion includes a variety of habitats ranging from submerged high-relief rocky reefs to broad expanses of intertidal mudflats in estuaries and hosts a vast array of fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, birds, plants, and micro-organisms. This ecoregion encompasses the area from the outer boundary of Oregon's Territorial Sea to the supra-tidal zone, and up into the estuaries.

Special needs

Dusky Canada Geese require adequate food resources (high-quality, high-protein herbaceous plants) in sufficient spatial and temporal distribution to sustain migratory and wintering populations. They make use of agricultural fields, including land used to produce grass seed, and natural wetlands.

Limiting factors

Decline of Dusky Canada Geese is primarily attributed to poor reproduction in their breeding range in Alaska. Wintering habitat in Oregon is being lost due to conversion from agricultural pastures and grass seed crops to other uses (other crops, urban development, etc.). Dusky Canada Goose wintering habitat occurs primarily on private lands, which limits management options. They are also susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Data gaps

• Evaluate the effects of habitat loss on movements and use of private lands.
• Evaluate effects of wetland habitat restoration on habitat use by the species.

Conservation actions

•Implement conservation actions and strategies available in the Pacific Flyway Management Plan for the Dusky Canada Goose (2015).
•Continue monitoring for potential population-level impacts of HPAI.

Key reference or plan

Pacific Flyway Management Plan for the Dusky Canada Goose. Read here