Teaching migration routes to canada geese and trumpeter swans using ultralight aircraft, 1990-2001
By: William J. L. Sladen, William A. Lishman, D. H. Ellis, G.G. Shire, and D.L. Rininger
Edited by: Eileen C. Rees, Susan L. Earnst, and John C. Coulson
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Abstract
This paper summarizes eleven years (1990-2001) of experiments to teach Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) and Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) pre-selected migration routes using ultralight aircraft. When Canada Geese were trained to follow an ultralight aircraft for southward autumn migrations of 680 or 1,320 km, 81% (83/103) returned on their own in the next spring to near their place of training. In contrast, none returned of 21 similarly raised geese that were transported south in a closed truck over a route of 680 km. Trumpeter Swans have proven more difficult to train. However, in two experiments in which Trumpeter Swans followed an ultralight for the entire pre-selected route, one of three and two of four returned close to their training area. A stage-by-stage method, in which swans were transported in trucks between stops, flown in the vicinity and penned with a view of the night sky, has shown some promise. So far an established migration route (north and south twice) has been confirmed in only two geese
| Publication type | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Title | Teaching migration routes to canada geese and trumpeter swans using ultralight aircraft, 1990-2001 |
| Year Published | 2002 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Other Government Series |
| Larger Work Title | Proceedings of the Fourth International Swan Symposium 2001 |
| First page | 132 |
| Last page | 137 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |