First specimens of free-flying Canada Geese Branta canadensis from Australia

Abstract

The Canada Goose Branta canadensis occurs in a feral state in New Zealand and rarely strays to Australia. There are two mainland records for Australia. The second of these pertains to four birds that were first observed on the south coast of New South Wales (NSW) in late 2007 before eventually being culled at Killalea State Park, NSW, in early March 2008. These specimens, three females and a male, the first from Australia, were incorporated into the collection of the Australian Museum. They are considered to have been free-flying adults of the subspecies B. c. maxima, that which occurs in New Zealand, from where they are assumed to have originated. The destruction of these Geese was consistent with guidelines for dealing with any appearance of this invasive species in Australia.