Tag Archives: Aleutian Cackling Geese

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A week ago Tuesday, sightings of these talkative geese came flooding in. The Aleutian Cackling Geese are on the move in huge numbers. Eric Zetterholm photographed this huge skein.

That Sunday Carolyn Case found more passing by, this time on a sunny day, flying over Gualala Point Island.

It's interesting that the two photos look like they are going both north and south, but it's all about where the photographer was standing.

The numbers of the Aleutian Cackling Geese have special meaning for Doug  Forsell, formerly a migratory seabird biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Doug wrote, “Quite a few flocks passing over my house today. I counted about 3,400 geese flying by in two and a half hours including one flock of about 1,400 birds. I think that is the largest flock I've seen. That one flock was four times the entire population of Aleutian Cackling Geese in the early 1970's, when they were put on the endangered species list.” Foxes had been introduced to the islands with devastating results to the nesting geese. Doug was part of the successful effort to save them from extinction, something to be very proud of.

Some people mistake these geese for Canada Geese. Here's a closer look, photo by Sara Bogard.

From the web I found this graphic showing the difference between the two birds

Thanks to Eric, Carolyn, and Sara for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Lots of rain yesterday, 1.42 inches in our gauge. Some showers passed by this morning, with sun reappearing in the afternoon. Another storm tomorrow! Over 52 inches season to date!

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The migration of birds is a wonder when you stop to think about it. They fly great distances twice a year. Aleutian Cackling Geese are flying to southern Oregon where they will feed, rest and get ready for the next migratory stage, flying to the Aleutian Islands. Sara Bogard recently photographed a flock passing by the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula.

In the early 1970’s, these birds numbered only 350 and were on the endangered species list. The story of their comeback is an inspiration. Today there are over 170,000 Aleutian Cackling Geese to delight birdwatchers of all ages.

To listen to their "cackling" call, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cackling_Goose/sounds

Thanks to Sara for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

It's sunny with many passing clouds, breezy and cool. 61.35 inches of rain so far at Rick's and my place! We always considered 50 inches a normal rain year.

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Gray Whales have been seen the past several days, many are mothers with calves. On Wednesday we watched a pod from our deck in Anchor Bay in the late afternoon. One whale did a complete breach! Here is a photo taken by Ron LeValley that shows you what a Gray Whale breach looks like. When the whale hits the water there is a BIG splash.

Also migrating north are thousands of Aleutian Cackling Geese. Richard Kuehn photographed several large flocks this past week consisting of over two hundred geese in each flock. The flocks look like undulating ribbons in the sky.

Rich took a close-up of them. They used to be called Canada Geese but they are smaller than Canada Geese and have the new name of Aleutian Cackling Geese. And, yes, they are quite noisy as they migrate. It's really fun to hear them approaching, cackling away.

Thanks to Rich and Ron for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/