Geese are a common sight at Long Lake and many other public spaces around Nanaimo. (Stew Pearce)

By Ian Holmes

goose challenges

Demand made for improved goose population control, Nanaimo birds show surprising trend

Feb 1, 2021 | 5:37 AM

NANAIMO — An environmental organization committed to reversing goose-damaged estuaries is trying to get Vancouver Island communities on the same flight path.

The Guardians of Mid Island Estuaries Society has been working for more than a decade to reduce the Oceanside region’s goose population, but executive director Tim Clermont said a broader strategy is required.

“If we can get everyone to take notice, pool our resources and not have one or two communities putting a lot of money into this issue then it will be a lot easier for everyone down the road,” Clermont told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Beyond wildlife-rich estuaries taking a beating from geese, Clermont said concerns from damaged and feces infested golf courses, parks, sports fields and beaches remain prevalent.

He said south coast Gary Oak ecosystems are decimated by geese favouring the prized trees for nesting habitat.

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Clermont said Parksville, Qualicum Beach and the RDN contributes $20,000 annually toward goose population control, while many other communities conduct varying “piece-meal strategies” for the migratory and resident birds.

“It has to be a comprehensive, professional effort and we’re just nowhere near that on Vancouver Island,” Clermont said, pointing out Canadian geese have few natural predators.

Clermont said a strong egg-addling program in the south Okanagan as an organized, effective strategy receiving $100,000 annually.

An estimated 12,000 to 13,000 Canadian geese live in the Vancouver Island/Gulf Islands area, according to Clermont, noting the population appears to have stabilized.

He said their organization destroyed eggs from more than 300 nests last year, preventing an estimated 1,700 birds from taking flight.

More is becoming known about the Canadian geese population in Nanaimo, their flight patterns and mortality rates through research by biologist Stew Pearce.

He spearheaded the VIU Goose Project in 2016, involving collaring 400 geese in Nanaimo.

Most of the goose sightings from the ID project are migratory, non resident birds spotted outside the harbour city.

“The consensus was that these Canada geese are simply resident birds that didn’t really move around,” Pearce said. “It was really surprising to see that extent to which they moved and the number of them that moved those distances.”

Dozens of collared geese have been reported as far south as Oregon and Washington state. The only non west coast sighting was obtained by a hunter in the village of Boyle, Alberta north of Edmonton.

Pearce said reports from 167 of the collared geese were made last year.

Pearce estimated Nanaimo’s Canada goose population peaks at 1,200, while numbers dip in the summer.

He said the birds do a substantial amount of damage to estuaries, including the Nanaimo estuary.

“Typically they like to feed on the roots of aquatic plants, so they actually rip the entire plant right out of the ground, which is causing significant erosion to these estuaries,” Pearce said. “The geese are essentially changing the entire ecosystem in that regard.”

Details on Pearce’ VIU Canada Goose Project, including how to report collared geese sightings, are available here.

The Canadian goose was first introduced in the Lower Mainland and Victoria in the 1960’s for hunting opportunities, Pearce said.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes