Food Habits of Wild Geese on the Gulf Coast of Texas

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Abstract
Material presented herein was gathered during the period from 1939 to 1945, over the entire coastal area. Here, up to 60 miles inland, where cattle grazing is the principal land use, more than 300,000 geese winter each year. Spp. included are the lesser snow goose {Chen h. hyperborea), blue goose (C. caerulescens), white-fronted goose (Anser a. albifrons), Canada goose (Branta c. canadensis), lesser Canada goose (B.C. leucopareia) and Hutchins goose (B.c. hutchinsi). Food studies were based jointly on analysis of materials from 117 goose gizzards, and on extensive field observations throughout the designated period. Cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) and corn (Zea mays) were the principal cultivated crops utilized by geese, most of the grain eaten being waste left in the fields. Geese fed largely on the foliage and seeds of such native spp. as occurred in each locality, and availability apparently influenced utilization as much as any preference. 31 native spp. were found in gizzard contents examined, and those taken most extensively were salt-grass (Distichlis spicata), water cress (Radicula nasturtium-aquaticum), water hyssop (Bacopa monniera), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), bur clover (Medicago hispida), sacahuiste (Spartina spartinae), and panic grass (Panicum).

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