Significant changes in the number and distribution of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have occurred in Colorado since the 1950s in association with a Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) transplant program that was initiated in 1953. In the 1950s, the only native population of nesting Canada geese inhabiting Colorado occurred in the northwest corner of the state confined to river habitat along the Yampa, Green, and Little Snake rivers. A few resident (nonmigratory) Canada geese existed in the Denver area, which originated from captive decoy flocks liberated in the 1930s.
The Colorado transplant program began with a study to identify suitable, unoccupied Canada goose nesting habitat statewide (Szymczak 1975). Banding records indicate 3,711 Canada geese were transplanted in the mountain parks and west of the Continental Divide in Colorado between 1955 and 1988. Managers need demographic and migration information to effectively manage the increasing number of Canada geese and human-Canada goose conflicts in western Colorado, but also to protect breeding populations. Because Canada goose populations in western Colorado have been recently established, there is little biological information available on which to base management decisions. This study proposes to determine and compare band recovery distribution, survival and encounter (recovery, reporting, and recapture) rates, and population segments for transplant and wild Canada goose banded in western Colorado prior to 2000 and Canada geese banded as part of this study in the same area during June and July 2000 through 2006. The study is planned for 5 years, beginning in 2002. A pilot study was completed in 2001 and 2002 in Middle Park. The area of study includes the mountain parks (North Park, Middle Park, South Park, and the San Luis Valley) and all lands west of the mountain parks in Colorado. Banding records indicate 6,222 wild caught Canada geese were banded in western Colorado from 1961 through 1996. Since 2000, 15,349 Canada geese were banded in the same area and 4,277 Canada geese have been recaptured. The percentage of adult Canada geese captured in 2005 that were previously banded during this study ranged from 25-50% at banding sites. Five hundred and thirty-two (532; 8.4% of 6,317 geese banded through 2003) bands have been recovered through the 2003-04 hunting season. The apparent direct recovery rate was 6.3% (HY = 8.7%, AHY = 5.6%) and the apparent indirect recovery rate was 2.1%. Direct band recoveries were recovered almost exclusively in Colorado and New Mexico. Indirect band recoveries were recovered primarily in Colorado and New Mexico, but also in states north, west and east of Colorado and in Canada.