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The resident Canadian Geese will stay all year round in Medicine Hat

Dec 17, 2017 | 5:07 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – The annual Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday December 17th in Police Point Park to help collect census data.

The Medicine Hat Interpretive Program has data dating back 36 years, said Park Interpreter Marty Drut.

“The idea of the Christmas bird count is to get an idea of population trends and winter bird distributions,” he explained. “If you have a long term data set, you can get a good idea of what is going on with birds.”

Drut said by looking back at previous years data, he can see how the Canadian Geese population has changed in Medicine Hat and there are two different behaviour types in this area.

“There is Canada Geese that are resident and stay here all year, they don’t migrate,” he explained. “There is a group of Canada Geese that do migrate through our area.”

He said there is a common misconception by the public that all Canada Geese migrant.

“The resident population of Canada Geese has increased and they’re able to survive in our area, he explained.” They are adaptable to the urban environment, they can take advantage of what we leave behind during harvest.”

Both are still considered Canadian Geese said Drut.

“We protected them and their population has grown,” he said. “They didn’t remember or know how to migrate while different populations continue their migratory behaviours.”

The next bird count will be in May said Drut, anyone is welcome to volunteer to get involved for the spring count by contacting the Medicine Hat Interpretive Program (403) 529-6225.