Global Sports: Important Details About The Goose

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Important Details About The Goose

By Robert Ford


From as recently as a few years ago, Canadian Geese have become too numerous not only in the urbanized regions but also in the suburbs of the country. The bird is basically black in color from the head to the neck, and the color changes from tan to cream over the breast. It has a brown back with a whitish strip under the chin.

About ten or twenty years ago the people purposely took efforts to bring back the Canada Geese to different regions of the country. It is however, odd to note that now these geese are treated like unwanted pests, as their number multiplied beyond the bearable limits.

Among the numerous subspecies of the geese of Canada, eleven of them are already named. A few of these birds can be distinguished as a result of their varying characters. Geese of darker color are common to western Canada, while smaller geese are mostly found in the north.

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, combined with changes in the weather and hunting patterns.

The geese in Canada shift to the north as soon as the breeding period is over. The geese which have no nests and those birds which don't breed fly to the distant north by travelling a distance of about 1500 kilometers. The geese which normally do not migrate in winter fly northwards by the latter half of summer. This is necessary to enable them to molt. Geese molt in thickly planted areas.

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

The Canada geese mostly live in marshes. They are also found on grasses and amidst grain-growing lands, preferably nearer to water. So, they can find feed for their young without any difficulty. They can also keep a watch on preying animals and protect their young. Therefore, numerous flocks of geese are found amidst our social environs, such as parks, lawns, airports and golf courses.

Over the seasons of spring and summer, Canadian Geese usually feed on grass, decaying cabbage leaves, eelgrass and marshy plants. In winter and autumn, lots of blueberries and other grains and seeds are available for their food. Two of their major subspecies have amazingly evolved themselves to their surroundings and thrive well.

These birds lay 2 to 8 eggs in one clutch. They are white colored with a creamy shade. Measuring 8.3 centimeters in breadth and 3.3 inches in length, they incubate for about 25 to 28 days. The eggs hatch to reveal little yellow goslings. Their eyes are open at the time of hatching. After a nestling time of 45 to 50 days, they are able to live on their own.




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