ACTIVITY BUDGETS OF GREATER SNOW GEESE IN FALL

We examined whether the fall activity budgets of greater snow geese (Chen caerulescens atlantica) vary between years and sites by comparing time-budget data gathered from 1982 to 1984 at the Montmagny and Cap-Saint-Ignace sanctuaries in Quebec. Feeding and resting accounted for more than 70% of the activities during the daylight period. At Cap-Saint-Ignace, geese spent less time feeding and more time resting during the 2nd year of the study, whereas no such annual variation was found at Montmagny. Snow geese also spent more time feeding and less time resting at Montmagny than at Cap-Saint-Ignace. These differences are discussed in relation to energy requirements, quality of feeding sites, temperature, and disturbance associated with hunting.