TULE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons gambelli (Hartlaub) 



Order: ANSERIFORMES Family: ANATIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : A medium-sized gray-brown goose with pink bill, orange 

 or yellow feet and white patch on front of face . Variable amount of black spotting on the 

 underparts. Immatures are dusky, without the distinctive marks of adults except the 

 orange or yellow feet. Differs from other races of North American white-fronted geese by 

 larger size and darker coloration. 



Present distribution : Two populations, one migrating into the Pacific states and the other 

 through the Great Plains. Breeding area for Pacific birds is unknown, but they winter in 

 Central California. Migrants recorded in western Oregon and as far south as northwestern 

 Mexico. Great Plains population migrates through Saskatchewan south to Texas and 

 Louisiana . Breeding population for this group discovered by Bob Elgas and Jack Kiracope 

 in northern Yukon Territory, Canada. 



Former distribution : Nothing further known beyond that for present distribution . 



Status : Difficult to determine exact status because of difficulty of distinguishing from other 

 forms of white-fronted geese. Identified each year at hunter checking stations in California. 

 No information on number taken in Great Plains migration route, although measurements of 

 birds banded in Saskatchewan indicate that they are relatively scarce migrants compared 

 with the Pacific white-fronted goose, (Anser albifrons frontalis ) . 



Estimated numbers : Evidently only a small fraction of the approximately 200,000 white- 

 fronted geese in North America. 



Breeding rate in the wild : 5 or 6 eggs per year. 



Reasons for decline : Not known to have declined but relatively tame nature, as compared 

 with other geese, makes the tule more vulnerable to shooting. 



Protective measures already taken : Studies of distribution and abundance have been 

 conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, the Canadian Wildlife 

 Service, and Bob Elgas of Big Timber, Montana. Captive propagation is underway by the 

 Bureau and Elgas . The expedition by Elgas and Kiracofe to northern Yukon Territory 

 where a breeding population was located was supported by the World Wildlife Fund. 



Measures proposed : Continue study of only known breeding population in northern Yukon 

 Territory. Survey adjoining areas to locate other colonies. Continue to develop capture 

 techniques in California, and devise telemetry technique to enable tracking of Pacific 

 population to their nesting area, which is unknown. Preserve study specimens of breeding 

 birds to determine range of variation of this subspecies, so it can be identified in migration 

 more certainly. Eggs should be taken from the breeding areas and adults from wintering 

 areas for captive rearing of stock for liberation into the wild, and learning more about the 

 biology of this goose . 



Ill 



