Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis)
canada-goose-in-flight
Honk, honk – how often have we heard this sound and looked to the sky to see the V-shaped flocks (* see below) of the Canada Goose? Each spring and fall, the skeins of migrating geese are a vivid reminder that the season is changing and migration is underway.
The Canada Goose has a black neck and head, white cheeks (sometimes called a chin strap) and a brownish breast. There are 6 subspecies of Canada Goose and size can vary quite a bit. For example, length may range from 25 to 45 inches and wingspan from 43 to 60 inches.
Nesting habitat of the Canada Goose varies from ponds, swamps, wet meadows, small lakes and rivers. In Quebec, geese prefer to nest in arctic tundra or the bog habitat of the boreal forest. Usually at age 2 or 3, geese will establish lifelong pair bonds; each pair then establishes a nesting territory. The pair will defend its territory vigorously, with bursts of honking and, in some cases, actual attack. If a goose approaches you with its neck extended and his head down, back off! You are probably too close to its nest or young family.
The female builds the nest – often on rocks, grassy mounds, muskrat homes etc. – and lines it with down. Grass, moss, cattails, branches and other plant material are gathered for the outer circle of the nest. Breeding behaviour begins in late April and continues to early July. The female lays between 4 to 6 eggs and incubates them for 28 days. The nestling phase is just one day, although the young may occasionally be brooded at night. During the fledgling stage, the young walk, swim and feed on their own, although the family moves around in a group – an excellent defensive strategy!
Geese are herbivores, eating roots, seeds, sedges and the occasional berry. During migration, flocks will often descend on farm fields and devour waste corn, grains and roots.
Information from The Breeding Bird Atlas of Quebec, edited by Jean Gauthier and Yves Aubry, 1996
*Why do geese fly in a V? Because it would be too hard to fly in an S! Just kidding. Scientists have determined that the V-shaped formation that geese use when migrating serves two important purposes:
First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest.
The second benefit to the V-formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group. Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason.
Answer from The Library of Congress, Everyday Mysteries website.
