Blue phased ross' geese

02 July 2014, 02:53

Peter Andersen

I'm wondering how many of you guys have saw or shot a blue ross before? Being from eastern Saskatchewan, I've looked over an uncountable amount of light geese before and had never saw one before this spring.

The amazing part is that it was a group of four, consisting of two adults and two juvies. They were among the first few flocks of ross' that we had give us a look this spring. They scurried off to a big feed to the east of our location before committing and giving us an up close look. Not to mention we still can't shoot them in our conservation season. It was a cool experience and one other hunter in my group noticed them as well.

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04 July 2014, 18:25

collector

Blue Ross is a trophy of a lifetime. They are very rare.

LEGITIMACY:
Some biologists have proposed that Blue Phase Ross are actually a cross between
Ross Goose X Lesser Snow Goose in Blue Phase

Same line of reasoning for Greater Snow Goose in Blue Phase. That such a bird is a cross between
Greater Snow Goose X Lesser Snow Goose in Blue Phase

Couple of years ago there was a biologist working for the Smithsonian on both projects. Blue Phase Ross as well as Blue Phase Greater Snow. He was asking the Waterfowl Hunters for assistance. I emailed him and he told me that the hunter would need to donate the whole bird to him on hunter's expense. He was going to keep the bird....the WHOLE DARN BIRD.

I am sure hunters would have gladly sent in a couple of feathers, and inner organs for his DNA studies. Hell, I would gladly do it. But to send in a trophy bird of a lifetime, never to be seen again, maybe not.

A Blue Phase Ross is just a very very rare trophy. I am sure many get breasted every year by inexperienced water fowlers who think it is just a smaller Blue Phase Lesser Snow.

The only North American goose even harder to get than a Blue Phase Ross would be a Blue Phase Greater Snow Goose.

04 July 2014, 19:55

L. David Keith

While hunting Swan's in NC years ago, we were in a blind right next to the Mattamuskeet NWR. I saw tens of thousands of greater Snow's coming from their roost out in the bays into the NWR. Only saw one blue phase, and at the time didn't know what to think of it. No shot opportunity as they sailed well above shotgun range, even for my full choke 10 gauge auto with 3.5" lead BB's.

08 July 2014, 08:28

collector

@LDK
That sounds about right. One can pick out the juvenile birds they are usually grey in color. And once in a blue moon you see that Greater Snow Goose in Blue Phase, flying at 300 yards, out of range

Here is a pic I took of a mature Greater Snow Goose in Blue Phase couple of years ago. This was reverse migration and they were flying back up north.