Did you realize that geese don't divorce?
—Photo by DON BARTLING Canada geese breaking formation preparing to land.
—Photo by DON BARTLING With mother goose in the lead and father guarding the rear the parents take their 18 goslings for an organized swim.
—Photo by DON BARTLING Find your own spot! Canada geese landing at the refuge.
When I visit the Kootenai National Wildlife, Smith Creek/Boundary Creek Refuge or walk along the Kootenai River I am aware of the presence of Canada geese. Even if you don’t see them right away you know they are in the area by their continuous honking. This past spring, I saw the spring hatching of the young goslings and watched them grow with their families throughout the summer.
The Canadian goose is a large gray goose with black neck and head, with a white chin or check strap. The female and juvenile has the same markings as the male. They are common year-round residents throughout the state of Idaho.
Adults mate for many years, but only start to breed in their third year. Males often act as sentinels, standing at the edge of a group bobbing their heads up and down, becoming very aggressive to anybody who approaches, often when provoked, they will hiss as if displaying displeasure. When an intruding goose doesn’t retreat, geese may grab each other by breast or throat and hit each other with their wings. Fighting may result in injuries.
Canada Geese eat grain from fields, graze on grass, and dabble in shallow water by tipping forward and extending their necks underwater.
During much of the year they associate in large flocks, and many of these birds may be related to one another. They mate for life with very low “divorce rates,” and pairs remain together throughout the year. Geese mate “assortatively,” larger birds choosing larger mates and smaller ones choosing smaller mates; in a given pair, the male is usually larger than the female.
During summer, and increasingly at other times of the year, Canada geese are fairly easy to see, swimming in open water, resting on shore or grazing on farm fields.
During spring, pairs break out from flocks and begin defending territories. Spacing of these pairs is variable and depends on availability of nest sites and population density; where population is large, even after a great many fights birds may end up nesting in view of one another.
The female selects the nest site, builds the nest, and incubates eggs. She may brood goslings in cold, wet, or windy weather or while they’re sleeping for the first week after hatching. The male guards the nest while the female incubates.
Soon after they hatch goslings begin pecking at small objects, and spend most of their time sleeping and feeding. They remain with their parents constantly, though sometimes “gang broods” form. They can include at least two broods, and sometimes five or more that travel, feed, and socialize together, accompanied by at least one adult. Young often remain with their parents for their entire first year.
In winter, geese can remain in northern areas with some open water and food resources even where temperatures are extremely cold. Geese breeding in the northernmost reaches of their range tend to migrate long distances to winter in the more southerly parts of the range, whereas geese breeding in southern Canada migrate shorter distances or not at all. Individuals tend to return to the same migratory stopover and wintering areas year after year.
Migrating flocks generally include loose aggregations of family groups and individuals, in both spring and fall. Flights usually begin at dusk but may begin anytime of day, and birds fly both night and day. They move in a V formation, with experienced individuals taking turns leading the flock. They can cover 1,500 miles in just 24 hours with a favorable wind, but typically travel at a much more leisurely rate. These noisy groups honk their way along established paths that include designated “rest stops.” These social birds remain in flocks year-round, except while nesting.
The nesting process consists of a large open cup on the ground, made of dry grasses, lichens, mosses, and other plant material and lined with down and some body feathers.
The nest placement is usually on the ground, usually on a muskrat mound or other slightly elevated site, near water. They prefer a spot from which they can have a fairly unobstructed view in many directions.
Female selects the site and does much of the nest construction. She adds down feathers and some body feathers beginning after the second egg is laid.
She does all the incubation while her mate guards her and the nest. The clutch size is 2-8 eggs with the incubation period 25-28 days and the nesting period 42-25 days.
Predators of the Canada goose include magpies, crows, hawks, Golden and Bald eagles, fox, coyotes, wolves, bobcats, lynx and man. The oldest known wild Canada goose was a female, who was at least 33 years, 3 months old when she was shot in 2001. She had been banded in Ohio in 1968.
Now when I return to the Kootenai National Wildlife, Smith Creek/Boundary Creek Refuge or walk along the Kootenai River I see the goslings all grown up and flying with their parents and hear their strong honking voices. Who knows whether they will migrate south or stay in Boundary County as a local goose for the winter? Whatever they decide they will have to do so soon.
Fall is upon us enjoy the beauty of Boundary County!
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