Canada Geese are waterfowl that live throughout most of North America. They are famous for
their life-long mating, though a widowed goose will usually choose another mate.
The gray area in the picture to the left represents the Canada
Goose's breeding area. As you can see, it's extremely widespread.
Description - male: Canada Geese
are large birds, 20 to 50 inches long with a wingspan of 50-68 inches.
Canada Geese are most easily identified by their long black neck,
with a black head, crown
and bill. They have a contrasting white cheek
and throat area. Their undertail
coverts are white. Their back, upper wings and flank are dark brown
with a lighter brown (sometimes, nearly white) breast and belly. They have
a short black tail and black legs with black webbed feet.
Canada Geese cover a wide range across North America. Canada Geese in
different areas may be different sizes, have different vocalizations or have
somewhat different coloring than those in other areas. All groups have the
characteristic long black neck, head, crown and bill and the white cheeks.
The smallest
Canada Geese (called "cackling geese" because of their high-pitched
vocalizations) are only 1/4 the size of the largest Canada Geese (called "honkers").
Description - female: same as the
male.
Description - young: Newly hatched
Canada Geese look much like ducklings with yellow and gray feathers and a dark
bill. But within a week they grow to be rather awkward-looking, fuzzy gray
birds. By nine to ten weeks old, they've grown their flight feathers and
look like slightly smaller versions of the adult.
Tracks: The webbed feet
of the Canada Goose are apparent when looking at their tracks.
Feeding:
Canada Geese, like most waterfowl, eat aquatic
vegetation, grass, roots and young sprouts. They also eat
grain and corn from agricultural areas.
Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther
Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther
Habitat:
Canada Geese live around ponds, river
and lake shores. They've become quite a common sight in city parks -- some
cities are having trouble with overpopulation of the geese and, for this
reason, are trying to discourage people from feeding them in the
overpopulated areas.
Used with permission. © Leanne Guenther
Nesting:
Canada Geese build their nest with grass and plant material
and line it with feather down. The geese typically nest on the
ground on islands and shorelines. However, they're very adaptable birds
and in urban settings nest where ever it seems safe to them --
even on the edge of the runway at the airport or on the edge of
the water traps on the golf course!
The female lays her eggs as soon as there is open water for mating and snow-free nest sites.
The female typically lays a clutch
of 5 to 7 white eggs (though the number can range anywhere from 2 to 12) while the male
guards the nesting area. Laying the eggs is not a simple task.
Each egg takes a little over a day to lay.
I can tell you from personal experience that if you accidentally wander into
a nesting male's territory while looking for a good spot to lie your picnic
blanket down, he'll come after you hissing with wings spread -- they look a lot
bigger and move a fair bit faster when they're upset about something *grin*.
The eggs typically take about a month to incubate. The
process is faster the farther north the geese nest since the summers are
shorter.
The baby geese peck at their shells with the
'egg tooth' found at the end of their bill. It takes 1 to
2 days for them to free themselves from the egg.
The newly hatched babies (called 'goslings') are able to swim
immediately. The male and female goose both accompany the babies
during their swims.
Goslings can dive and swim for 30-40 feet underwater and
they eat almost continuously to attain growth for the first migration
flight.
Photographer: Bates Littlehales
Enemies: The
main enemy of the Canada Goose is people. In an attempt to control
rising populations some areas have begun egg collection and/or hunting
efforts to decrease the number of geese in their area.
Natural enemies include the Arctic fox, gulls, Bald Eagles, Peregrine
Falcons, Snowy Owls, and Prairie Falcons.
Arctic Fox
Migration: After the babies (called
'goslings') have hatched, the family moves away from the nesting site on foot
toward more favorable feeding areas. Five weeks after the goslings hatch,
the females begin moulting
(the males begin right after mating). During this time, the adults are
unable to fly. The adults regrow their flight feathers and are ready to
fly at about the same time as the goslings are able to learn - at nine weeks
old.
In autumn, as soon as the young are strong enough for the trip, they begin
their migration south. They learn the migration routes from their
parents and follow the same route in subsequent years.
Although an increasing number of Canada Geese are choosing to winter in
Canada, especially in urban areas, the majority fly south to the United States
and even Mexico.
