In July of 2004, The Checklist Committee of the American Ornithologists Union (AOU) published the 45th Supplement to the AOU Checklist of North American Birds. One of the new decisions was that the Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) be split from Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). In one sense, this is an "armchair Lifer" for me. I know I have been shown the Richardson's subspecies of the Canada Goose in 1999 or 2000. In early 2003, I picked one Bird out of a flock of perhaps 1,000 rafting Canada Geese on Cayuga Lake in the Town of Aurora. Back then it used to be an incidental sighting. Now, it is a full species. But are these photos below representative of a Richardson's Cackling Goose, or could they be of one of the other subspecies?
A diminutive fowl reported as a Richardson's Goose was initially discovered on 9-23-04 by local Birder Joe Brin in the Town of Van Buren's Central Park south of Baldwinsville, NY (KB Region 5, County Onondaga). I relocated the Bird on 9-24, and began taking photos. No doubt which one the target Bird is here! Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 400, Evaluative metering.
A side-by-side comparison with perhaps a "greater" common Canada Goose. Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 400, Evaluative metering.
The group moved to the water, now we see the size relative to each other when swimming. Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. ISO 400, Evaluative metering.
I returned to the park on 9-25 for more photos. It was a dreary day. I wanted some breast-on shots, and I didn't get any good ones from 9-24. At this point, I was starting to get suspicious that this Bird may not be a Richardson's Goose after all... Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens and 1.4 extender. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.
The problem here is twofold: first, Cackling Goose is a new species, and not well illustrated. However, in the Sibley Guide, the Richardson's is depicted with a pale breast slightly grayer than the larger races of the Canada Goose. The Aleutian race (formerly Branta canadensis minima, now called B. hutchinsii minima) has the dark breast with purplish sheen. There is no way the little Goose above is pale breasted!! Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens and 1.4 extender. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.
Another problem...B.h. minima has never strayed to NYS, according to the Sibley Guide to Birds. Further, the Sibley guide shows depictions of past records of Aleutian strays only as far east as Nevada or Arizona. However, this fact is refuted on Angus Wilson's Website. He notes of B. h. mimima: "A few have been reported from eastern North America as well as Western Europe." Questions: is the head shape and bill shape correct for minima? Or, better yet, can Richardson's show a dark breast? Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens and 1.4 extender. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.
I welcome any comments regarding this Cackling Goose. Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens and 1.4 extender. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.
I include this shot, a composite, to show size relative to a Ring-billed Gull. Perhaps the wing flap can help point to an ID? Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens and 1.4 extender. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.
A composite of several poor flight shots... Central Park, in the Town of Van Buren, NY USA. September-2004. Canon EOS-10D, EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens and 1.4 extender. ISO 800, Evaluative metering.