Dr. Chris Nicolai is a renowned waterfowl biologist who grew up and completed his undergraduate degree in Minnesota.  His Master’s degree from University of Alaska and  Ph.D. from the University of Nevada are both focused on breeding black brant in western Alaska.  He is a foremost expert on waterfowl banding/tracking, hunter-harvest modeling and other critical science. Chris has spent 15 years working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and moved to Delta Waterfowl in Bismarck 2.5 years ago as the resident research scientist. 

Topics Discussed:

• Brant and why they are the coolest goose of all.
• Oologists and egg collectors.
• Snow, Blues, and Ross Geese histories.
• Goose Genetics
• Snow goose population impacts on other waterfowl.
• Updating the Light Goose Conservation Order (LGCO) and what that would take. 
• Climate change’s impact on food in the arctic.

Chasing Rabbits:

• Alaska Bird Trails: Adventures of an Expedition by Dog Sled to the Delta of the Yukon River at Hooper Bay
• Search for The Blue Goose: J.Dewey Soper: The Arctic Adventures of a Canadian Naturalist
• Join Delta Waterfowl

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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