Press release from Eastern RI Conservation District:
Tiverton, RI – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with the RI State Conservation Committee, RI Conservation Districts and the Town of Bristol, RI would like to announce the Kick Off of the Volunteer Goose Force with a Field Training for all people interested in learning and implementing the GeesePeace approved Canada Goose Egg Oiling method.
Resident Canada Geese populations can inflict significant damage in the form of water quality impairment, vegetation loss, and subsequent erosion. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, geese also produce heavy concentrations of fecal droppings which can lead to excess nutrient enrichment of ponds and lakes. The additional nutrients then lead to excessive plant growth such as algae and other nuisance plants. Rapid increases in algae can then limit the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water for other aquatic organisms. Excessive fecal droppings can also contribute to shellfishery and beach closings. These large, dense geese populations also pose a risk to other species of birds through transmission of avian diseases.
To mitigate effects on water quality, NRCS and ERICD are offering a pilot conservation program to help manage resident Canada goose populations in Rhode Island towns in Newport and Bristol counties.
Volunteers will meet Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the VFW Hall Parking Lot Bristol, RI at 10AM for a Field Outing at Silver Creek, Mt. Hope Farm, Blithewold and Walker Island in Bristol, RI. This will be a hands-on training on how to locate Resident Canada Goose nesting sites and perform egg oiling using the GeesePeace approved Canada Goose Egg Oiling method (approved by PETA and the Humane Society).
Future Field Outings will be held every Saturday until May 21, 2011. Other outing dates will be added as volunteer availability dictates. Outing locations will vary as we will be locating nests in different areas of Bristol and Newport counties over the next few weeks.
Please contact Jessica at (401) 816-5667 or email [email protected] to sign up to volunteer or to get more information on this important conservation project and how you, your community or your town can get involved. Also, keep informed of outing dates and locations by viewing the What Grows On in RI calendar at www.whatgrowsonri.com.
Goose Force Volunteers will meet Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the VFW Hall Parking Lot Bristol, RI at 10AM for a Field Outing at Silver Creek, Mt. Hope Farm, Blithewold and Walker Island in Bristol, RI.
When: Saturday, April 23, 2011
Meeting at: VFW Hall parking lot - 850 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809
Travel to Silver Creek, Mt Hope Farm, Blithewold and Walker Island
Time: 10 AM
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