Time budget of Greater Snow Geese during the brood-rearing period

Abstract

The time budget of Greater Snow Geese Anser (Chen) caerulescens atlanticus was measured on northern Baffin Island from 27 July to 17 August 1981, during the rearing of young by moulting parents and the post-moult of non-breeding geese. Adults with young spent only 25% of the time feeding and 40% in alert position, probably because of the presence of arctic foxes in the area. Non-breeders spent the same amount of time (28%) foraging as they did preening their new feathers. Daily activity of young consisted mostly of foraging (55%) and resting (24%). No clear activity rhythms could be detected under the 24-hour daylight regime with one exception: adult geese with young rested more during the 06.00-12.00 hrs period.