This beautiful goose is a native of Alaska, where some 80-90% of the total population breeds along the west coast. Most Emperor Geese winter in the Aleutian Islands, but a small number of them head south into British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and even northern California. In 1964, there were about 139,000 Emperor Geese, but (probably) due to subsistence hunting and oil pollution, their numbers had declined to 42,000 by 1986. By 2000, their numbers had increased to 62,000, an increase of 38% over the previous year. I didn't know much about Emperor Geese when I photographed this individual at the Pt. Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, WA. I still don't know much, but I do know, they look like cookie jars!

Information gleaned from the Duck's Unlimited website. Used with permission.