Date: 10/9/25 7:07 pm From: Lisa D. Walker, (Feather Forestwalker) via groups.io <feather...> Subject: Re: [Mendobirds] Aleutian Cacklers
I have a guess as to why the geese sometimes head north during the fall migration:
They nest in the Arctic tundra and in the Aleutians. They head south and over-shoot their destination and turn around. They have to regain their bearings and turn inland at a spot where the Jet Stream might carry them east. Once they see some familiar landmarks, they can drift south into the Central Valley, where they will spend the winter.
Maybe?
Lisa Walker, Fort Bragg/Cleone
PS. What else did you see at Virgin Creek? I've missed it the last couple of days because I've been doing over-due chores at home :)
On 2025-10-09 3:19 pm, John Gallo via groups.io wrote: > I saw another one of the northbound flocks at about 9:00 AM at Virgin > Creek today. Love that sound. > > Is there any speculation or science about why heading north, not > south, and for how far? > > Maybe doing a second pass along the North Coast to respectfully invite > locals to join their flock? > > (Giving them time for last minute packing of course.) > > ;-) John > > On Thu, Oct 9, 2025 at 7:51 AM jackson_us via groups.io [1] > <jackson2...> wrote: > >> Several large flocks were seen and heard off Point Arena heading >> south yesterday afternoon. >> >> Jeanne, Anchor Bay >> >> From: <Mendobirds...> <Mendobirds...> On Behalf Of Tim >> Bray via groups.io [1] >> Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 9:39 PM >> To: <mendobirds...> >> Subject: [Mendobirds] Aleutian Cacklers >> >> 8 October 2025 - Multiple flocks of 80-200 Cackling Geese flew over >> the coast this afternoon. Photos show white neck collars indicating >> Aleutians. >> >> The first ones we saw were flying low over the ocean south of Fort >> Bragg heading toward shore; once over land they gained elevation and >> turned north, surprisingly. They were followed by at least two more >> flocks also going north over town. When we got home in Albion >> another flock flew over going south. >> >> Evidently, winter is coming. >> >> -- >> Cheers, >> Tim >> “I now belong to a higher cult of mortals for I have seen the >> albatross.” Robert Cushman Murphy, 1912 >> Mendocino Coast Audubon Society [2] >> Ecology Hour [3] >> Oak & Thorn [4] >> Facebook: Oak and Thorn [5] > > > > Links: > ------ > [1] http://groups.io > [2] http://mendocinocoastaudubon.org/ > [3] https://ecologyhour.wordpress.com/ > [4] http://oakandthorn.wordpress.com > [5] https://www.facebook.com/oakandthorn > [6] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/message/9664 > [7] https://groups.io/mt/115667065/974701 > [8] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/post > [9] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/editsub/974701 > [10] https://groups.io/g/Mendobirds/unsub
