Jun 5, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
This video was taken at Potter Marsh on June 1, 2015. I suspect the goslings had recently hatched. Probably the geese are of the subspecies Branta canadensis parvipes the Lesser Canada Goose. The following information comes from: Mowbray, Thomas B., Craig R. Ely,...
Jun 3, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
Not much is known about the nesting habits of Common Mergansers so this video was very exciting to get. Probably the most recent information on this bird can be found at Common Merganser from Pearce, John, Mark Mallory and Karen Metz. 2015. Common Merganser (Mergus...
Apr 19, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
In winter these geese feed on the sprouts of Lyngby’s Sedge (Carex lyngbyei) Protein and nitrogen requirements of Canada Geese are highest in late winter and spring. Why are the sedge sprouts more nutritious at this time? As the greenery fades in the fall, a...
Apr 10, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
This video shows some of the behavior of Bufflehead ducks during courtship and protection of its mate The following is from Gauthier, Gilles. 2014. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology;...
Mar 6, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
This is probably the most important plant in Alaska’s marine wetlands. The plants scientific name is Carex lyngbyei How do you tell a sedge from a grass? Canada Geese and many waterfowl eat its seeds, graze the green stems and roots. In spring they like to nip...
Mar 2, 2015 | Birds, Waterfowl
This video was taken In February, 2015 in Juneau, Alaska. The Barrow’s Goldeneye was named for John Barrow (1764–1848) of the British Admiralty in recognition of his support of arctic exploration. During winter in salt water they mostly feed on blue mussels and...