Sunday, September 1, 2013

A Passing Look At Goose Species

By Robert Ford


The Canada goose is a basic black color on the head and neck, a neat white chinstrap, and light tan to cream color variation on the breast with a brown back. The population of the Canada goose has increased dramatically in urban and suburban areas in recent time.

An interesting fact about the Canada goose is that just a decade or two after people intentionally re-introduced the very large Canada goose to various areas they were soon thought of as pests.

There are at least approximately eleven subspecies of Canadian Geese that have been identified. Several of them have distinct features. In northern Canada, the size of the geese is comparatively smaller. In most of the western region, they seem to have a relatively darker color.

An interesting fact about the Canada geese is that the migratory populations are no longer flying as far to the south during the winter months as they used to previously. This shift in northward migration is as a result of the changes in farming methods which makes grain more available during fall and winter, in addition to changes in the weather and hunting patterns.

Canada geese from most populations migrate northwards after breeding. However those geese that do not breed or have lost their nest early in the breeding season travel approximately 1500 km northward. They try to utilize the vegetation to facilitate their molt, and even local populationswhich normally do not migrate south in winter shift to the north by late summer to molt.

The giant Canada goose almost became extinct in the 1900s and has been reintroduced to the local landscape however the excess amount of these geese has resulted in their classification as pests. An interesting fact about the Canada goose is that they matefor life and both genders are known to choose their mate of similar sizes.

The Canada goose fancies marshes and areas near grass and grain fields and areas situated near water. They like to stay on grass as it is easy to feed their young on the flat land and keep an eye out for predators. This is why the Canada goose is commonly found in areas inhabited by humans like the golf course, airport, grass lawns and parks.

Canada goose is known for its preference of plants and indulges in feeding on grass, skunk cabbage leaf, eelgrass and sedges during spring and summer. However during fall and winters they prefer the readily available blueberries, agricultural grains and seeds. It is another interesting fact about Canadian geese that the two subspecies have beautifully adapted to their environment that they survive in.

The Canadian Geese lay two to eight eggs at a time. Each egg is 3.3 inches long and 8.3 centimeters wide. The eggs are creamy white in color. They incubate for about 25 to 28 days and each egg hatches to bring a yellow hatchling with eyes open. The young one stays in the nest for about 45 to 50 days before it becomes independent.




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