Waterfowl Wednesday
the Canada Goose. I find some surprising similarities to humans in this little tidbit of information. Read on to find out what I mean!
During the second year of their lives, Canada Geese find a mate. Most couples stay together all of their lives. If one is killed, the other may find a new mate. The female lays 4-8 eggsand both parents protect the nest while the eggs incubate, but the female spends more time at the nest than the male. During this incubation period, the adults lose their flight feathers, so that they cannot fly until after their eggs hatch. This stage lasts for 25-28 days.
Adult geese are often seen leading their goslings in a line, usually with one parent at the front, and the other at the back of the "parade". While protecting their goslings, parents often violently chase away nearby creatures, from small blackbirds to other geese, to humans that approach, after warning them by giving off a hissing sound. This well-known species is native to North AMerica. It breeds in Canada and the northern United STates in a variety of habitats.Through different areas of North America, non-migratory Canada Goose populations have been on the increase. They are frequently seen at golf courses, parking lots and urban parks, which would have previously hosted only migratory geese on rare occasions. Their adaptability to human-altered areas has made this the most common waterfowl species in North America. In many areas, these non-migratory Canada Geese are now regarded as pests. They are suspected of being a cause of an increase in high fecal coliforms at beaches. An extended hunting season and the use of noise makers have been used in an attempt to disrupt suspect flocks over the course of several years.
Did you really read all that? If so, Thanks for you patience. I tend to do a bit of information overload at times! If not, *raspberries* to you!
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