Fascinating topic, Kristin! I looked up "the list" and was slightly surprised to see Canada Geese on it. Where I live in Western Nevada, they are an invasive nuisance. In fact, since they have everything they need right here, they live here year-round. They do get a bit antsy in autumn and spring. But after making a few orbits of the valley in vee-formation, they remember that there is no need to migrate after all, and they return to home base.
Gary, We had to deal with Canada Geese staying on our farm, where they compete with our livestock for grass! At least they don't kill livestock directly. More worrisome, I began seeing Black Vultures hanging around our farm through the winter in recent years also. Strange for a "tropical" bird, but if they can feed on livestock all year, the incentive to migrate may be gone. I have found some information on this that confirms my observations: https://avianreport.com/black-vulture-migration-movements/
So one wonders how long bird species that have stopped migrating will stay on the list of "migratory birds" protected by the treaties and MBTA of 1918.
Fascinating topic, Kristin! I looked up "the list" and was slightly surprised to see Canada Geese on it. Where I live in Western Nevada, they are an invasive nuisance. In fact, since they have everything they need right here, they live here year-round. They do get a bit antsy in autumn and spring. But after making a few orbits of the valley in vee-formation, they remember that there is no need to migrate after all, and they return to home base.
Gary, We had to deal with Canada Geese staying on our farm, where they compete with our livestock for grass! At least they don't kill livestock directly. More worrisome, I began seeing Black Vultures hanging around our farm through the winter in recent years also. Strange for a "tropical" bird, but if they can feed on livestock all year, the incentive to migrate may be gone. I have found some information on this that confirms my observations: https://avianreport.com/black-vulture-migration-movements/
So one wonders how long bird species that have stopped migrating will stay on the list of "migratory birds" protected by the treaties and MBTA of 1918.