Every month, museum visitors choose the exhibit they liked the most. What they singled out for February was the Emperor Goose.

The emperor goose (Anser canagicus), also known as the beach goose or the painted goose, is a waterfowl species in the family Anatidae. In summer, the emperor goose is found in arctic and subarctic Alaska, where it breeds in monogamous pairs. It migrates south to winter in mudflats and coastal habitats in Alaska. They have stout blue-gray bodies, with black and white spots on their plumage resembling scales. Their heads and the back of their necks are white and tinged with amber-yellow color. They are listed as Near Threatened as its population is declining due to threats such as water pollution, hunting and climate change.

2/3/2024