Photos: Geese arriving earlier to Colville River Delta

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A snow goose paddles along in June of 2015 in the Colville River Delta. Snow geese are adapting well to the changing climate in the area and the population is thriving on the delta, which is prime habitat for migratory birds. Snow geese have been able to speed their arrival on the delta to grab the choice food, which is available earlier as plants sprout earlier.

Snow geese and white-fronted geese are gorging on what amounts to an early bird special on Alaska's North Slope, thanks to their ability to adapt to warming Arctic conditions, according to new research from the U.S. Geological Survey and other organizations.

A USGS-led study finds that white-fronted geese, snow geese and other species of birds that nest in the Colville River Delta have steadily advanced their arrival there over the last half century. The 16 studied species are arriving 6 days earlier, on average, or 0.12 days per year on average.

Of the 16 species studied, greater white-fronted geese and lesser snow geese moved their arrival the most, according to the study, advancing by an annual average of 0.19 days and 0.18 days respectively.

The arrival-date study uses five decades of detailed observations by Jim Helmericks and his family, residents of a unique Alaska homestead on the Colville River Delta of northernmost Alaska. Helmericks is a co-author of the study, published online in the Journal of Avian Biology. "He's quite an observer and naturalist," said USGS wildlife biologist David Ward, the lead author.

Read more: As spring comes sooner, geese arriving earlier to Colville River Delta nesting sites