nature, Photography

Goosey, Goosey Gander

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I think the Canada geese are getting ready to nest.

The physical differences between females and males is quite subtle, but so are the behaviours. The males are slightly larger and have slightly larger necks, but I wouldn’t put money on being able to pick a male from a female.

Canada geese mate for life and are very much equal partners, taking turns guarding, sitting on the nest and feeding the little ones. In the case of the pair above, one was guarding while the other was eating, but I couldn’t tell which was which. One thing I could tell though was that the guarding goose was giving me the stinkeye!

I’m sure that nesting is starting soon because instead of maintaining their tight flock as they usually do, the couples have somewhat separated themselves from each other. Nevertheless they still tend not to stray too far. There were two other couples nearby and all three were clearly checking in with one another.

The best part is that soon there will be little ones around and it’s always so much fun to watch them grow.

I’ve been ill with flu but am on the mend now and was finally able to get out for a walk; I was rewarded with these geese sightings. Although it’s not official yet, Happy Spring.

46 thoughts on “Goosey, Goosey Gander”

    1. Thank you very much, Andy. Canada geese are an invasive species anywhere else other than North America and northern Scandinavia and of course that always means they can be a problem wherever they have been introduced. I understand that NZ is actively trying to eliminate them?

      Here they have many natural predators which keeps their numbers under control – I’ve watched our local bald eagles hunting them, for instance. Nevertheless they are very successful in taking advantage of human activity in either rural or urban areas and their aggressive behaviour (including in groups) can deter lots of predators away from them too.

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  4. We get hundreds of Canada Geese on the nearby estuary during the winter months. The only problem with geese is the horrid mess they make on the grass, and how they sometimes push out our native ducks.

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    1. In the UK they’re an invasive species and that usually means problems with native wildlife and often a lack of predators, too. I was surprised to learn how far around the world these geese were introduced, either for hunting or ornamental purposes. It’s usually never a good thing when humans do that.

      Here, they face many more predators which keeps their numbers in check and subsequently their messes, too. I’ve watched our local bald eagles hunting them.

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  5. Sorry to hear you had the flu Lynette. Being sick at any time is not great, but during “indoor” season, it is awful. The Canada Geese are also back here already. Seems they did not read the long range forecast. Ponds are still frozen and 20 cm of snow is on the way. They will look bedraggled for a while, but they gte to pick the best spots and guard them. Happy Thursday. Allan

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    1. Thanks, Allan. I finally got out for a walk yesterday but didn’t go very far because I got exhausted really quickly, so I think I might have to be more patient with my recovery.

      Poor geese! A big surprise for them but right, they get dibs. And yes, I saw your forecast. Snow in March isn’t unusual, but 20 cm? Your poor lawn is going to be buried again. Another round of hunkering down. Take care and watch that shovelling.

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  6. Nice photos of the geese, Lynette. Glad you’re feeling better. I’ve had a similar time of it this winter. So glad we are both on the mend as spring heads our way. We need to be in good shape to enjoy it.

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    1. Thank you very much, Anneli. I wasn’t feeling very well there for a bit but you’re right, we should both be a lot better for spring start. Sorry to hear that you were under the weather also. Cheers.

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    1. That’s a picture I took a couple of years ago with a good camera. The others were taken with my cell phone so they’re fine but not great. These geese are very elegant in the air. Beautiful fliers. Cheers.

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  11. Hi Lynette
    The Canada Geese come to us as well. They fly with the Pink Foot and Grey Geese and seem to love it in the marshes here.
    Thanks for sharing your pictures
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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    1. You’re welcome. 😊 I found it interesting to learn that they are native across the north (above 60° north latitude) as banded geese regularly show that they have flown for example from NWT across Nunavut, Greenland and Iceland to northern Norway and Sweden. They aren’t native to the UK (and interestingly, don’t stop there while flying to Scandinavia) but were imported about 200 years ago originally for ornamental purposes. Cheers.

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  12. Lovely photos, Lynette. There was a large population of Canadian Geese at Lake Union in Seattle when I worked in the area. I always loved seeing the little ones and seeing how protective the adults were. I hope you feel better soon!

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    1. Thank you very much, Tricia. I am on the mend, thankfully, just trying to get my energy back. I love watching them with their little ones; they tend to hang out with the mallards who also have lots of little ones so it’s a big nursery!

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  14. Great insights into Canada geese where they are from, Lynette . NZ’s lack of native animals, apart from endemic birds, doesn’t help when it comes to controlling the impact of all sorts of introduced species and human control of their populations is a necessity to allow native species to thrive.
    Cheers, Andy

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    1. Thank you very much, Andy. I agree that invasive species have to at least be controlled if not eliminated entirely. They are messing with the natural order and can do tremendous damage. I only know of one case (here in Canada) where a non-native species has integrated without issue and that involves the importation of California quail to the Okanagan Valley here in B.C. about 100 years ago. They have thrived (and are confined to this area because of weather and geography) without impinging on native wildlife or vegetation. That’s a rarity.

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  15. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been sick, hope you will feel much better soon!

    Although our lake is still/mostly frozen, I spotted a large flock of ducks and geese last weekend. It’s about their time!

    xx

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  16. I’ve bee hearing geese squawking in large groups up high in the sky lately. Their calls seem to go on for quite some time.

    Yuck, about the flu. Glad you were improved enough to get out for a bit. Here’s to a quick and full recovery.

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    1. They seem to be on the move to their nesting sites. The ones we have here tend to stay all year but they move around the valley. I’ve seen the same flock at a lake up in the mountains – I can tell because one of them has a damaged foot and bad limp – so they get around locally.

      Thank you very much. I’m definitely on the mend. 😊

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  17. I doubt I could tell the difference between a male or female either. It’s neat to hear that they are equal partners when it comes to caring and raising their little ones. Sorry to hear you’ve been sick. I’m sure getting some fresh air really helped.

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    1. Thanks very much, Linda. I’m still a bit weak but definitely on the mend. They mate for life at about 2 or 3 years – it’s not uncommon for Canada geese to live to about 20 – and are very monogamous. Yes, they are extremely good parents who divvy up the work equally. They’re certainly good examples to all of us. Cheers.

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