Data from: Variation in age ratio of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during fall migration

Annual productivity is an important parameter for the management of
waterfowl populations. Fall age ratio (juveniles:total birds) is an index
of productivity of the preceding breeding season. However, differences in
the timing of migration between family groups and nonbreeding birds may
bias age-ratio estimates. We examined temporal variation in age ratios of
midcontinent greater white-fronted geese Anser albifrons frontalis from
interior and northwestern Alaska at a northern autumn staging area near
Delta Junction, Alaska. Photographic sampling conducted near Delta
Junction resulted in an annual age ratio of 0.388 ± 0.004 (mean ± SE) in
2010 and 0.390 ± 0.001 in 2011. Our study demonstrated temporal variation
in age ratios over the duration of the migration period during August and
September. We recommend that sampling be conducted for 3-d periods at the
beginning, middle, and end of the migration period to account for temporal
variation in migration of family groups.