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On Jan. 21, Don Watts, a Warren County birder friend who is the coordinator of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count in the Warren area, agreed to show me good birding spots in his area. We didn't see birds out of the ordinary for most of the time. Even the Screech Owl that resides in a tree near his property wasn't home.

Then we headed to the Newbold Estate, on Dunns Eddy Road in Irvine. We didn't see much there besides geese. But wait a minute. Don noticed one that wasn't a Canada Goose. Oh, probably just a barnyard, or Graylag, Goose. Thank goodness Don looked closely. This goose had more shades of black than the brown of the common barnyard goose. The belly also had black streaks instead of the Graylag's more solid brown. We were both able to get great photos of it. Then, the bird flew a short distance. Yes. Don saw the white tail tip. We also heard its call. Later, we listened to the call on my Stokes' bird-call cd.

We were quite sure that this bird was a Great White-fronted Goose. Don called Scott Stoleson, an ornithologist with the U.S. Forest Service. Scott was able to see the bird. He agreed on our identification. Later Don checked the records of Warren County, kept by the late Ted Grisez. This bird had never been sighted in Warren County. Yahoo!

Sibley's "Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America" shows that the Greater White-fronted Goose is rare in the Eastern United States. Having one of the largest breeding areas of any goose species, it is found in Canada, Russia and all the way to Greenland. However, in North America, it winters only west of the Mississippi River and in Mexico.

Its favored habitats range from fields with grasses and sedges that will survive in very cold climates in Canada to dry grassland and deserts in southern United States and Mexico.

It is in the Canadian tundra where our goose breeds. It mates for life and continues care of the young into the second year. The pairs will arrive in the very coldest, northern parts of Canada, before the snow melts in the spring. . Most birds have young when there are plenty of insects. In the arctic, that means that from May to June, there are plenty of mosquitoes, blackflies, butterflies, and six-legged prey. However, to protect themselves, the adults have body fat in case the year does not provide as much food.

Unlike many other social species of geese, the Greater White-fronted pair prefers to be alone. This means that they do not have other adults to warn them of predators. These geese are vulnerable because of the lack of dense vegetation. However, they build their nests on islets or are protected by mute colors and secretive behavior. Also, male birds of any species that build their nests on the ground with the females, like geese, are very protective of the nest and the young. They will even put themselves in danger. The main cause of nesting failure is due to flooding and predators. The nests are composed of feathers, grass, lichen, moss, and dry leaves. That structure is lined with softer, finer materials to which is added down during the egg-laying.

These birds consume young grasses, berries, grain shoots and seeds, nuts and sometimes insects and larvae that they find in the water.

The good news is that this population of geese is increasing or remaining stable. That statement was made in David Sibley's "The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior," copyright 2001.

This is one time that I have to say that it is a small chance that you will see this bird at the Jamestown Audubon. But still, the Audubon is a great place to view waterfowl, shorebirds, and eagles. They like our Big Pond.

Don't forget about Snowflake Festival, Feb. 6, from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. It is a great way to spend a winter day!

The Jamestown Audubon Center and Sanctuary is located at 1600 Riverside Road, off of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. On Saturdays and Mondays we are open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sundays we are open from 1 to 4:30. The trails, which are great for walking and cross-country skiing, are open from dawn to dusk. Call (716) 569-2345 or visit www.jamestownaudubon.org for more information.