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First Goose of the Year!

When will the geese come back?
Canada Goose

Canada Goose

This is a question we get asked a lot at Oak Hammock Marsh and the answer can vary greatly depending on the year. Although some people associate the arrival of spring with the prediction from a groundhog or the arrival of swallows, we believe that the first sign of spring is the arrival of the first Canada Goose.

Recording the arrival of the first Canada Goose spotted at Oak Hammock Marsh every Spring has been an annual tradition since 1994. In 1998 the first goose contest was created as a fun way for visitors to guess when the first goose would arrive.
The Contest runs from the end of January to March 1st or when the first goose arrives, whichever comes first. Only one guess per participant is allowed. The contest is open to everyone.
arrival dates and times over the past years
  • 1994 March 16, time not recorded
  • 1995 March 13, 12:35 p.m.
  • 1996 April 6, 7 p.m.
  • 1997 March 24, time not recorded
  • 1998 March 28, 10:35 a.m.
  • 1999 March 14, 11:38 a.m.
  • 2000 February 28, 7:30 a.m.
  • 2001 March 17, 10:15 a.m.
  • 2002 March 17, 9:30 a.m.
  • 2003 March 16, 8:45 a.m.
  • 2004 March 9, 9 a.m.
  • 2005 March 19, 3:08 p.m.
  • 2006 March 10, 12:30 p.m.
  • 2007 March 18, 12 p.m.
  • 2008 March 16, 2 p.m.
  • 2009 March 15, 10:45 a.m.
  • 2010 March 15, 10:11 a.m.
  • 2011 March 13, 2 p.m.
  • 2012 March 11, 11:45 a.m.
  • 2013 March 22, 6 p.m.
  • 2014 March 13, 1:10 p.m.
  • 2015 March 10, 10:15 a.m.
  • 2016 March 6, 8:15 a.m.
  • 2017 February 21, 1:45 p.m.
  • 2018 March 3, 4:30 p.m.
  • 2019 March 18, 1:04 p.m.
  • 2020 March 6, 1:21 p.m.
  • 2021 March 4, 1:05 p.m.
  • 2022 March 16, 1:44 p.m.
  • 2023 March 24, 7:46 p.m.
  • 2024 February 27, 9:00 a.m.
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