Vegetation preferences of captive Canada geese at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

Bird-aircraft strikes represent a serious safety and economic problem in th e United States. Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are frequently attracted to airfields because of the availability of preferred forage and large open areas. At Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, we determined preferences of c aptive, wild-caught, lesser Canada geese (B. c. parvipes) for alternative v egetation types not normally planted at this airfield. We compared Canada g oose preferences for Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), bluejoint reedgras s (Calamagrostis canadensis), beach wildrye (Elymus mollis), Baring hairgra ss (Deschampsia beringensis), lupine (Lupinus nootkatensis), and flightline turf (a mix of smooth brome [Bromus sp.], dock [Rumex acerosella], and red fescue [Festuca rubra]). Geese preferred flightline turf over Kentucky blu egrass. Bering hairgrass was marginally less preferred than Kentucky bluegr ass. Kentucky bluegrass was preferred over lupine, bluejoint reedgrass, and beach wildrye. We discuss vegetation management as an alternative goose co ntrol technique. Further evaluation of the least preferred vegetation types should be conducted in large flight pen and field plot studies.