Long-term monitoring of breeding activity of Greater Snow Geese on Bylot Island, Nunavut

We are monitoring the nesting activity of Greater Snow Geese. We find nests through systematic searches of both fixed and random plots throughout the goose colony. Nests of other goose species are also monitored opportunistically. All nests found are positioned with a GPS and revisited several times to determine nesting density, laying date, clutch size, hatching date and nesting success. Young are marked with web tags at hatch. During brood-rearing, family size is determined periodically. Families are caught in mass banding drives before fledging and young are weighed and measured to assess their survival and growth. All captured birds are banded and females are marked with neck collars. We also monitor the nests of any other goose species found opportunistically in our study site.