USE OF THE TERRITORY OF NOUVEAU-QUEBEC BY SNOW GEESE (CHEN CAERULESCENS) DURING MIGRATION

Observations made during aerial caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) su rveys carried out in 1975, 1977, 1983 and 1985 confirm that Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens) make regular stops in Nouveau-Quebec during their spring and fall migrations. The observed flocks are distributed acros s the whole territory. Densities of 0.3 birds/km were obtained during the spring surveys, while those obtained during the fall surveys varie d from 1,3 to 10,0 birds/km. Snow geese stop on the hilltops of the fo rest tundra as well as north of the tree-line in the Arctic tundra whe re they seem to feed on small fruits. Birds making this stopover seem to belong to both subspecies C. c. atlantica and C. c. caerulescens.