***Federal - MBTA***
***NY - Game Species***

    Snow Geese are another one of our waterfowl migrants.  They are seen most commonly during late fall and early spring migration, but some will stay on open water throughout the winter, especially on the coast.  Vaguely resembling domestic geese the white phase of the Snow Goose can be distinguished by their black wingtips and orange bill with a black "grinning patch"- a black line where the mandibles meet.  The blue phase is less common than the white and the field marks are similar, except the body is patterned with blue and gray.  Snow Geese have been increasing in recent years and in early spring as many as 70,000 individuals gather at the north end of Cayuga Lake before continuing north.  There are some predictions that they will soon overpopulate the Arctic Tundra where they breed, possibly with disasterous consequences.  Many states are increasing bag limits in response to this potential threat.