Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

Today it is hard not to associate the fall season with the familiar honking of the Canada Goose. But there was a time when the fall skies were silent and there was real concern that without help, the Canada Goose would disappear.

Habitat

Look for Canada Geese in summer, winter, and during migration, in places with water: wetlands, rivers, and lakes, especially if there is grass or grain fields nearby. In urban areas, look for them at parks, golf courses, and in neighbourhoods, with ponds and lots of mowed grass areas.

You can find Canada Geese at Oak Hammock Marsh!

Food

Being plant eaters, Canada Geese favour grasses, sedges, berries, seeds, and farm crops, like wheat and corn.

Behaviour

There are several different subspecies of Canada Goose: Giant, Lesser, and Interior. They all share the same colours but differ in size and nesting areas. All Canada Geese will choose their mates over winter, mating for life. In spring, the female will lead her mate back north to the area where she was born.  A nest will be built soon after snow begins to melt, made of grass, leaves, and down feathers from the female’s body. Nest locations are typically on the ground and have clear visibility so any approaching predators can be seen. Between 4 and 10 cream colored eggs will be laid and incubated for about 28 days. During this time the male will stand watch nearby. Following hatching, the young will stay with the parents for up to a year.

Conservation

The Canada Goose was pushed to the edge of extinction in the early 1900s due to overhunting and habitat loss. The Giant subspecies was even thought to be extinct. In the 1960s and 1970s programs to reestablish Canada Geese were established. These programs, along with managed hunting, beneficial changes in agriculture, and urban designs, have allowed these birds to rebound significantly.

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