March 28, 4014<\/p>\n
Canada Geese<\/p>\n
Remember when Canada geese were a fly-by-night group?<\/p>\n
Back then, before our resident goose populations took hold, it was big news when these large, majestic<\/p>\n
birds blew into town. Flying in V-formation, honking and squawking, they’d land by the hundreds on<\/p>\n
rivers and ponds. People, myself included, would go out of their way to take in the spectacle of what<\/p>\n
were then considered “rare birds.”<\/p>\n
But you had to hurry. “The Geese,” as we called them, never stayed around long. They had a long<\/p>\n
journey ahead, either north to their nesting grounds or south to their winter range, and our area was a<\/p>\n
mere stopover as they made their way along their migration route.<\/p>\n
Boy, how times have changed. Thanks to a one-two punch of non-migratory “giant” Canada geese<\/p>\n
(Branta canadensis maxima) being introduced to the area, along with landscape modifications that have<\/p>\n
produced year-round sources of food and open water, these birds are anything but rare. Today, instead<\/p>\n
of moving toward a group of Canada geese, people tend to move away, quickly, dodging both the<\/p>\n
animals and the ample evidence they leave behind.<\/p>\n
But if you’re one of the few folks who still find Canada geese fascinating, now’s a great time to pay a<\/p>\n
visit to a local pond or riverside park. There’s a lot going on in Gooseland. For one, migrating flocks are<\/p>\n
heading back north. If you’re not sure<\/p>\n
whether the geese you’re watching are<\/p>\n
migratory or residents, move around just a<\/p>\n
little bit. Migrating geese are much warier<\/p>\n
than our non-migrating birds and will take<\/p>\n
off at, literally, the drop of a hat.<\/p>\n
If you’re lucky, you might even catch a<\/p>\n
glimpse of a goose sporting a neck collar.<\/p>\n
Neck collars designate birds that are being<\/p>\n
tracked as part of assorted research<\/p>\n
projects. The collars come in many colors<\/p>\n
and usually are printed with three or four characters, depending on the research and the Canada goose<\/p>\n
subspecies involved. (That’s right, not all Canada geese are the same. More than 10 subspecies have<\/p>\n
been identified. In fact, the four smallest forms have been split off into a completely different species<\/p>\n
known as the Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii.)<\/p>\n
But even our resident Canada geese, common as they might seem, can provide plenty of entertainment.<\/p>\n
This is the time of year when geese transition between winter “surviving” mode and springtime<\/p>\n
“thriving” mode. Though the birds still prefer the safety of open water and their flockmates during the<\/p>\n
overnight hours, during the daytime you’ll see it’s a whole different story. Bonded pairs are renewing<\/p>\n
their acquaintances and young geese are pairing off for the first time. It’s The Dating Game, Branta<\/p>\n
canadensis style.<\/p>\n
I suppose the scientific term for their behavior is courtship, but I can’t help but anthropomorphize \u2013 that<\/p>\n
is, apply human traits to non-human creatures \u2013 as I watch pairs strolling along local park paths and bike<\/p>\n
trails.<\/p>\n
“Where would you like to go today, honey?”<\/p>\n
“Oh, I dunno. Maybe out to eat? Just give me a sec while I run to the bath\u2026 Oops! Never mind…”<\/p>\n
This past week, we’ve had the pleasure of watching a pair of Canada geese break away from the flock to<\/p>\n
enjoy quiet interludes in the athletic fields near Hickory Knolls. They’ve left their biodegradable marks,<\/p>\n
for sure, but also have enriched our daily birdwatching with their devoted behavior toward one another.<\/p>\n
The male goose, larger than his female companion, typically walks somewhat behind his mate as they<\/p>\n
make their way around the broad, open space. As the female waddles slowly forward, the male lags<\/p>\n
behind, grabbing occasional bill-fuls of grass as he keeps a watchful eye for potential threats.<\/p>\n
Dining at Chez Soccer Field might last a few minutes or several, depending on the quality and quantity of<\/p>\n
offerings, as well as how safe the male deems the area. Then it’s on to the next course, picking through<\/p>\n
leaf litter, followed by drinks back at the retention pond.<\/p>\n
Canada goose dating is a prelude to, of course, Canada goose mating, which normally would already be<\/p>\n
underway but, with this year’s lingering cold, may be delayed another week or two.<\/p>\n
Sooner rather than later though, Mom Goose will be on the lookout for a suitable location for nesting.<\/p>\n
Although most geese prefer secluded locations, individuals that are used to humans may opt for<\/p>\n
seemingly unnatural sites like parking lot islands or garden beds. The flower boxes on St. Charles’ Illinois<\/p>\n
Street bridge, for instance, are perennial goose favorites, likely due to their proximity to water as well as<\/p>\n
being relatively predator proof.<\/p>\n
Once settled, the female will begin the process of laying eggs, one a day, until her clutch is complete.<\/p>\n
Only after the last egg is laid does she begin incubating; that way, she ensures the young will all hatch<\/p>\n
within a few hours of each other. Incubation lasts about four weeks, so this year we can count on seeing<\/p>\n
Canada goose families, each complete with mom, dad and a gaggle of goslings, sometime in late April or<\/p>\n
early May.<\/p>\n
Even though Canada geese are ubiquitous throughout our Tri-Cities landscapes, they can still put on<\/p>\n
quite a show, if you know what to look for. Don’t be silly. Go out and take a gander.<\/p>\n
Pam Otto is the manager of nature programs and interpretive services at the Hickory Knolls Discovery<\/p>\n
Center, a facility of the St. Charles Park District. She can be reached at 630-513-4346 or<\/p>\n