Environmental Impact - Wildlife/Vegetation Effects

Belanger, L., & Bedard J. (1989). Responses of staging greater snow geese to human disturbance. Journal of Wildlife Management 53(3): 713-719.

Abstract

We studied the effects of human disturbance on staging in greater snow geese during the spring and fall in the Montmagny bird sanctuary, Quebec, 1985-1987. We recorded 652 disturbances (any event causing all or a part of a goose flock to take flight) in 471 hours of observation. Rate of disturbance was higher in fall than in spring. The entire flock was disturbed in 20% of all cases. Mean time in flight was 56 and 76 seconds in fall and spring, respectively. Transport-related activities particularly low-flying aircraft, caused> 45% of all disturbances in spring and fall. In 40% of all cases geese stopped their feeding following a disturbance. Mean time to
resume feeding was then 726 seconds in fall compared to 122 seconds in spring. The level of disturbance that prevailed on a given day in fall influenced goose use of the sanctuary on the following day. When disturbance exceeded 2.0/hour, it produced a 50% drop in the mean number of geese present in the sanctuary the next day. Low-level aircraft flights over goose sanctuaries should be strictly regulated.

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