Giroux and Bedard studied the use of American bulrush (Scirpus americanus) for feeding by greater snow geese (Chen caerulescens atlantica) in the spring and fall, and how that was influenced by the following factors: previous use by geese, biotic and abiotic characteristics of marshes, and hunting pressure. In fall, geese were concentrated in no-hunting areas and in spring geese fed to a greater extent in marshes adjacent to sanctuaries. During fall staging, distance to the nearest hunters' blind, softness of the marsh surface, and soil texture appeared to control the number of geese within marshes. In spring, geese were more numerous in locations where their food supply, and subterranean biomass of American bulrush, was more abundant. Sites located higher in the marsh were intensively used, especially when the ebb tide began, following the 4-5 hours of submersion associated with the slack tide. Effects of goose grubbing may have be lessened by the presence of rocks and a higher percent of clay in the soil. American bulrush marshes are important habitat for greater snow geese staging in Quebec. Creating sanctuaries along the Saint Lawrence estuary will help retain a core group of geese in the area to provide opportunities for hunting and observation.
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