Canada Geese mate the second year and are monogamous throughout their lives, but if a mate is lost, the remaining goose will find another mate. They breed earlier in the season than most birds. The goslings usually hatch when the plants are at their highest nutritional value. Those residing in temperate climates begin nesting as soon as the conditions are favorable. Those nesting further north start in late April or early May.
Most nest sites are located near water. The sites chosen offer protection from the wind while still giving the female a clear line of sight. The nest is usually built in a depression on the ground and lined with soft grass and feathers.
A clutch usually consists of 4 to 8 eggs. Both parents assume responsibility for protecting the nest and incubating the eggs, but the female spends more time incubating the eggs. She will leave the nest long enough to feed and bathe before returning to her brood. During the incubation phase (25 to 28 days), the adults molt, losing their flight feathers and cannot fly.
Newly hatched Canada Geese are covered with a yellow down.
The gosling's down gives way to feathers and usually fledge (fly) between 6 and 9 weeks of age. The family unit remains together until the spring migration.
Females always return to their place of origin, nesting close to where they hatched.
The family unit stays together with the female leading, goslings following along in a row with the gander bringing up the rear. This arrangement is often called a crèche. Both parents protect their young, becoming violent when necessary.
They are so very cute! I saw a goose family with 5 kids yesterday on our daily walk too.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Angie, always a good sight to see :)
DeleteWe have a lot, and I love them! I did not know the dad brings up the rear! I will have to watch for that. So far I have only seen the mom at the front.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you love them Ginny, I do too :) I didn't know that either, it was fun to refresh on them. Always a lovely sight.
DeleteLovely post Denise and now I'm more enlightened regarding the Canadian Geese. Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed Margaret and thank you so much :)
DeleteYou’ve really delighted me with this interesting report on the Canada goose, along with the beautiful photos.
ReplyDeletehave a good day, hugs Elke
You have made me very happy and thank you for sharing that dear Elke :) You have a good day too, hugs, Denise
DeleteGorgeous photos Denise. Those babies are precious :-D <3
ReplyDeleteHappy you think so Ananka, thank you so much and I agree, precious! :)
DeleteYour photos are wonderful. Interesting facts about them. The goslings are so cute.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that very much Ann. Thank you, glad you enjoyed. The goslings are always so cute, aren't they? :)
DeleteI love Canada Geese. They're such stately birds.
ReplyDeleteMe too and I totally agree. Thank you Janice :)
DeleteI once bent low to photograph one on a path and received a very stern warning. I keep my distance now.
ReplyDeleteThey always seem to be right next to a path or actually on it, don't they? I was using a zoom lens for this family. I have also been given a stern warning, even before eggs were hatched, not realizing I was near a very camouflaged nest :)
DeleteThey are cute!
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed :)
DeleteWhen you wrote "becoming violent" it made me think of being at a house visiting when I was a young child. There were geese and I irritated one of them. They are formidable! So much so that I still remember.
ReplyDeleteI bet you do and I have a similar story as a child. I was on a picnic with my aunty no older than six or seven, and was chased by a white goose, screaming blue bloody murder as I ran. I heard my aunty shouting, drop the sandwich, drop the sandwich. I was too busy running to hear. I remember getting a sharp peck on the legs and still remember that horrible nip. That sandwich was no longer edible, scrunched up as it was. The goose finally got it I suppose as I eventually dropped it when the chase ended. I am sure it was being territorial also.
DeleteThe iconic Canada goose. They always in Scotland during the summer time. Learning about that strict family march with the female leading the row and the gander bringing up the rear explains exactly why seeing a Canada Goose family out on the water always looks so incredibly organized and intentional. It is so fascinating that the family unit remains completely inseparable until the spring migration, and knowing that the females always return to nest right near their own place of origin adds such a lovely sense of loyalty to their survival instincts.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting Melody. I had no idea they summered in Scotland. I have long admired them for their feistiness, among other things.
DeleteI never get tired of watching Canada geese.
ReplyDeleteMe neither Red, they are so entertaining! :)
DeleteGood Googly Gook Mama Goose is taught them early to keep a straight line
ReplyDeleteHugs cecilia
LOL, they certainly did :) Hugs, Denise
DeleteDie jungen Gänse sind super süß. Ich mag die Kanadagänse besonders, weil sie sich so hingebungsvoll um ihren Nachwuchs kümmern.
ReplyDeleteDanke, und ich stimme dir zu – das ist einer der vielen Gründe, warum ich sie so mag. Danke auch für deinen Besuch und den Kommentar. Das weiß ich sehr zu schätzen. :)
DeleteThose little babies are too stinkin' cute.
ReplyDeleteI agree Ivy :)
DeleteThanks for the dinner suggestion for hot weather. I made chicken salad and we had it with lettuce from the garden, brie cheese, crackers and peaches.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Marcia. It is still hot and humid but no thunderstorm warnings today :) Chicken salad and the rest sounds like a great idea. We have chicken and it will make a nice change this week.
DeleteIt's so much fun to see the littles of any family!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is Ellen :)
DeleteThey are very beautiful and splendid! I love the images, in particular when they follow the mother in line in the water. This is always heart touching to look at it
ReplyDeleteHello Claire :) I am glad you enjoyed them. I totally agree when seeing them in the water.
DeleteAww lovely to see these photographs from your archives.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Happy you enjoyed them Jan and thank you for telling me that. Very much appreciated :) All the best, Denise
DeleteUy que lindos Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteMe alegra que los hayas disfrutado. ¡Muchas gracias! Te deseo un feliz fin de semana y te mando un beso.
DeleteThose goslings are so cute. You have some great photos in this post. :) Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I was happy to come across their photos again and appreciate your kind words Erika. Thank you and you have a wonderful weekend also.
DeleteI love the geese and goslings and look forward to them each year but I learned a lot here!
ReplyDeleteThey are fun aren’t they? Glad you enjoyed Jeanie :)
DeleteI love looking at those - nature is so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat’s great Sandie, and I totally agree. Nature is wonderful :)
DeleteWe used to see them when we lived on the lake. They are so precious. I spotted some flying north this week.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to live next to a lake and see these beauties all the time :) they are precious indeed. Also, one of my next favorite things in nature is to see their 'v' formation flying overhead and honking away. It is a wonderful sight and sound.
DeleteHow lovely to see the Canada goose family with their brood of cute goslings.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely memory. I hope I get to see more one day :)
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