There is a definite red swath north of the delta, inland from the beach, which indicates a sharp decrease in vegetation. The beach itself, like most of the image, shows a light yellow-green color, suggesting a slight increase in vegetative growth. Scientists evaluating 1,200 miles of shoreline habitat along Hudson Bay said about a third was severely damaged and another third destroyed. Once the soil is bare the surface temperature increases, which increases evaporation, which leaves behind an accumulation of natural salts on the surface. This salty layer inhibits the recovery of plants.
Erosion also damages the thin soil.
But despite the loss of forage, the geese keep homing back to the same area, and they keep reproducing using energy gained during migration. The goslings are not so lucky. But adults commonly live and reproduce into their teens, so the population keeps growing. This is true not only for the Mid-Continent population of snow geese, but for four of the five populations worldwide. 10 Destroyed habitat could make the aged snow goose population collapse.