Hiking Backpack Zone

Since the recent past, Canadian Geese have become too numerous not only in the urbanized areas 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 over the chin.

About one or two decades ago ago the people deliberately took efforts to bring back the Canada Geese to different regions of the country. It is however, peculiar to note that now these geese are treated like unwanted pests, as their number multiplied beyond the manageable limits.

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

An interesting fact about the Canada geese is that the migratory populations are no longer going as far to the south during the winter months as they used to previously. This change in northward migration has been accredited to the changes in farming practices which makes grain more available during fall and winter, combined with changes in the weather and hunting patterns.

Generally after the breeding season, the Canadian Geese travel to the northern parts. A few of them unfortunately sometimes lose their nests. Such geese, along with those that do not breed fly to the far north travelling nearly one thousand and five hundred kilometers. They move into the thick foliage for molting. By the end of summer, even those that had chosen to avoid winter-migration reach the north for molting.

The decision of mating partners depends exclusively on their size. An exceptional attribute of the Canada Geese is that they form a partnership for life. A variant of the Canada Geese of a especially large size was declared extinct in the 1900s. Subsequently, numerous of these birds were reintroduced in various parts of the country. Unfortunately, their population became too big, and so they were regarded as pests.

Predominantly found in marshy land and on grassy areas or grain-cultivated fields close to water resources, the Canadian Geese like to reside amidst the grass. This is because they can easily feed their chicks, while at the same time checking out for predatory animals. Hence, it is not surprising to find flocks of these birds in human-inhabited places like the airport, grassy lawns, parks 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, plenty 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 nearly 25 to 28 days. The eggs hatch to reveal little yellow goslings. Their eyes are openwhen they are hatched. After a nestling time of 45 to 50 days, they are able to live on their own.

Canada goose eggs are three times the size of chicken eggs. Follow the link for further Canadian goose information.