Proud Swimmer - Snow Goose

The snow goose nests in the Arctic in a breeding colony. It is actually the same species as the blue goose, so the colony can be a mixture of blues and snows with one parent of each colour form.

I was very fortunate to be invited on a research project to study the blue goose/snow goose connection with ecology, behaviour and inheritance. It was a most wonderful experience because all of the arctic birds were at the peak of their breeding season, including species of shore birds and waterfowl. I visited certain nests every day and became familiar with the parent birds. They were usually very tame and sometimes quite defiant.

This painting depicts that bright and buoyant atmosphere of the breeding colony.