Morphological differences and migration patterns of greater and lesser snow geese in New York State

Lesser (Chen caerulescens caerulescens, LSGO) and greater snow goose atlantica, GSGO) populations have increased substantially in the past 50 years. The light conservation order established 1998 (Canada) 1999 (U.S.) aimed to increase harvest stabilize because breeding ground abundance was thought negatively impact arctic ecosystems. In Atlantic flyway, where LSGO GSGO are both available for harvest, techniques differentiate sub-species field using morphology may be helpful management mid-continent ~16 times more abundant than (n < 1,000,000). We investigated percentages spatial distribution of spring NY as this information could useful population decisions. developed a discriminant function analysis (DFA) heads from geese harvested during 2016 2018 were able between with 95.5% accuracy. Based on DFA results, we estimated that New York state 80% 20% LSGO. Using band recoveries autumn harvests, also identified occurred farther west 2010s prior two decades. Our results indicate comprise most provide evidence shift migration patterns since 1990s.