Photo Gallery | SLIDESHOW: MDC gathers, bands geese in Cape County Park

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Missouri Department of Conservation employees gathered gaggles of geese in Cape Girardeau County on Thursday.

More than 20 biologists, resource assistants and interns met at Capaha Park, Cape County Park, Rotary Lake in Jackson and the Bent Creek Area to put waterfowl identification bands on Canada geese.

Onlookers at the city parks were able to take part in the exercise and even hold some of the geese for the biologists.

The MDC says this is the second year in a row they have banded geese in the county with a purpose to collect population data and learn how and where the geese migrate year to year. They say biologists use the data to measure the birds' movements, as well as mortality, reproduction, harvest and survival rates. The information is used to adapt the management of Canada geese.

The MDC plans to recapture the geese each year to record the data and band any new geese. Each goose was released at the same area where it was captured. Though they ruffled their feathers and cackled at the biologists, the MDC says each was returned to its area safe and sound.

The department also banded geese earlier this week at Wappapello Lake and Clearwater Lake. Next week, the biologists will gather geese at Otter Slough Conservation Area, and parks in and around Dexter, Malden and Charleston.

For more information on waterfowl bands, check out the official U.S. Geological Survey website or go online to the Missouri Department of Conservation by clicking here. For more information on this goose banding event, you can contact the MDC's Southeast Regional Office.

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