| [NO LOCAL IMAGE YET] | I never thought that I would be
able to distinguish a Ross' Goose from the many Snow
Geese that winter at the Salton Sea Wildlife Refuge in the Imperial
Valley. The two look so much alike and you cannot approach them too closely
at the refuge.
However, on March 10, 1997, I saw this uncommon visitor where I would least expect it. I was watching a flock of White-Faced Ibis feeding in an irrigated alfalfa field. Scattered among the ibis were some white Cattle Egrets (the two commonly feed together this way). As they got nearer, I noticed that one of the white birds was actually a small, white goose! With my spotting scope I was able to identify it as a Ross' Goose by the blue tinge at the base of its "warty" beak. For an hour, I watched it feed on alfalfa leaves, drink from the irrigation water, and occasionally close its eyes to rest among the flock of ibis and egrets. When I left, the goose flew off together with the ibis. |
If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.htmlThey present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Ross' Goose
OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:
Arctic Goose Joint Venture - Ross' Goose photograph displaying a collar placed there by researchers for this joint Canadian, American and Russian wildlife program.
Update Your Field Guide - Did you know Ross' Goose is now Ross's Goose? Many other changes have taken place since the National Geographic Field Guide to North American Birds' 2nd Edition. Chris Moellering has made this Web page that details the changes page-by-page.
This site is maintained by:
Eldon R. Caldwell
Imperial Valley College
Email: eldonc@imperial.cc.ca.us