| Few spectacles symbolize autumn better than a gang | | | | goslings can dive 30-40 feet underwater for nutritious, |
| of Canada Geese crossing a cloudy sky in | | | | aquatic plants. |
| V-formation. Common throughout most of North | | | | At nine or ten weeks of age, goslings have grown |
| America, Canada Geese live around ponds, rivers, and | | | | their flight feathers and look like smaller versions of |
| lake shores where they feed on aquatic grass, roots, | | | | their parents. Canada Geese are easily identifiable with |
| and young sprouts, as well as corn and grain. A strong | | | | their long black necks and heads and contrasting white |
| inward pull called instinct urges these waterfowl into | | | | cheek and throats. Their back, upper wings, and flank |
| the skies to make this great annual southward | | | | areas are brown capes draped over nearly white |
| migration. But instinct does not determine the route the | | | | breasts and bellies. Short black tails, black legs and |
| birds take. Canada Geese migrate in family groups, | | | | black webbed feet are visible when they waddle |
| and they will travel the same route year after year. | | | | across an open field. While Canada Geese range in |
| The young geese learn the route from their parents, | | | | size, they are typically 20-50 inches long, with a 50-68 |
| and use the same route in subsequent years with their | | | | inch wingspan. The largest varieties are called honkers, |
| own young. | | | | while smaller geese, one fourth the size, are called |
| Canada Geese are more family-oriented than many | | | | cacklers. |
| other species of waterfowl. Adults mate for life, | | | | The first two months of a gosling's life its entire goose |
| although a widow will often choose another mate. | | | | family is earth-bound. Ganders molt directly after |
| Pairs look for appropriate nesting sites in early spring, | | | | mating, and geese molt shortly after her eggs hatch. |
| just as soon as there is open water for mating, and | | | | Unable to fly, the family abandons the nest on foot to |
| snow-free sites for nesting. Together, they use grass | | | | find better feeding areas. Adults will have re-grown |
| and plant material to build their nests, lining it with | | | | their new feathers just in time to give their young their |
| feather down. When the nest is ready, the male, called | | | | first flying lesson. |
| a gander, will guard the area as his mate lays her | | | | Few birds are as vocal as Canada Geese, and some |
| eggs. An average clutch is five to seven eggs, but it | | | | say they encourage each other as they take their |
| can be as low as two or as high as twelve. Each egg | | | | challenging journey. If you listen carefully, you can |
| will take a day of more to lay, and incubation lasts | | | | determine the gender of the goose by their |
| about a month. | | | | vocalizations. Ganders speak in a low-pitched honk, |
| Both goose and gander are present when the eggs | | | | while geese use a high-pitched hink. Goslings have a |
| begin to hatch. Goslings use their sharp egg teeth to | | | | soft, wheezy call. |
| peck their way out of their shells, an arduous task that | | | | The journey is made easier by flying in V-formation. By |
| can take a full day or two. These newly hatched | | | | flying in formation, the flock adds 71% greater flying |
| babies resemble ducklings, with yellow and gray | | | | range than if each bird flew alone. As each goose |
| feathers and dark bills; but within a week they will have | | | | flaps its wings, it creates uplift for those following |
| changed into awkward-looking, fuzzy gray birds. Once | | | | behind. The geese take turns in the point position, as |
| out of their eggs, goslings are able to swim | | | | tired birds rotate back. If a goose is wounded or falls |
| immediately, and will enter the water accompanied by | | | | out of formation for any other reason, two of its flock |
| both parents. There they will begin their first task of | | | | will stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then |
| diving and eating. They must eat continually in order to | | | | they will join another formation or catch up with their |
| grow sufficiently for their first flight. Newly-hatched | | | | flock. |