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Platte River Status: An abundant migrant and locally common winter resident. The giant race (B.c. maxima) formerly bred within the study area and has been successfully reintroduced at several localities. Tout (1947) found Canada goose in Lincoln County only as a migrant and occasional winter resident.

Breeding Range: Reintroduced to wetlands in the Rainwater Basin area of the Eastern Plain, the Sandhills, and locally along the Platte River. Some pioneering individuals may have become established in areas other than the release sites.

Breeding Population: We did not record the Canada goose on our random sample plots. Based on distribution of the species we believe the current population is about 250 breeding pairs.

Habitat: Small islands within marshes are readily used for nest sites. Edges of abandoned sandpits adjacent to the Platte River are regularly occupied by nesting pairs. Faanes (1982) found that Canada goose occurred primarily on large, permanent wetlands on a central North Dakota study area.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Destruction of wetlands and reduction of instream flows within the Platte River ecosystem has had a negative impact on this species and its preferred habitat. Earlier, unregulated hunting contributed to the demise of Canada goose as a nesting species. Through legal protection and re-stocking efforts in suitable habitat, this goose will probably expand its nesting distribution and increase population size within the Platte River Valley.

Nesting Data: Most nests at the Sacramento-Wilcox Wildlife Area, Phelps County, are found during late March and early April. Extreme egg dates in North Dakota extend from 13 April to 14 June (Stewart 1975).