A Challenge to the group:
David Sibley has an excellent discussion of the present knowledge on the se=
paration of the newly split Canada and Cackling Geese
http://www.sibleyguides.com/canada_cackling.htm.=20
The thing that caught my eye in Sibleys report was that there might be sign=
ificant differences in voice between the subspecies. All of us who have s=
pent time around the smallest versions of the Cackling Goose know how very =
different its voice is from the very large forms of these geese but can voi=
ce be used to separate accurately all of the ssp?? or spearate at any rat=
e the group that is now (at least for a while) classed as Canada Goose vs t=
hat now classed as Cackling Goose in the field? Sibley points out that thi=
s may not be possible but I wonder if this group can come up with good fiel=
d id vocalization clues before the bino guys can come up with them or bette=
r ones than they come up with..=20
Do any of you have any comments or vocalizations of known ssp that you woul=
d be willing to share. If anybody has been on the breeding grounds the ssp=
of where the recording was made is a pretty good indication would help. =
I personally know little about the vocalizations of most of the subspecies =
of these geese and only have recordings of our local birds but I wonder if=
the collective brains and resources of this group can either solve or put =
a big dent it.
Barb Beck
Edmonton Alberta Canada
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