Canadian Geese

[Hunter]

When do Canadian Geese pass through New England? Isn't early September early? It felt early to see them. I'm trying to Google a bit, but I'm not finding what I'm looking for.

[Matryoshka]

It's hard to tell, as most of them have become year-round residents and have given up migrating.  They all seem to be descendants of decoy geese whose wings were clipped to attract the migrating ones, I guess a bunch of those got released or had babies that then never learned to migrate.  The local ones fly over all the time to as they're going from place to place - it's pretty hard to tell which ones are going south/north and which ones are going from the golf course to the local beach...

 

Here's an article.  It actually posits a couple of other reasons they may have stopped migrating, and thinks it's probably a combination of the causes...

[HomesteadMommy]

When do Canadian Geese pass through New England? Isn't early September early? It felt early to see them. I'm trying to Google a bit, but I'm not finding what I'm looking for.

I'm in Ontario and we still have a lot of geese here. They have been flocking and teaching the younger ones how to fly. I find the often stay until the pond's start freezing over in late October.

 

 

Sent from my 6045I using Tapatalk

[barnwife]

They aren't Canadian geese. :001_tt2:  They are Canada geese.

Signed, 
Someone who grew up in a place famous for them stopping there

[purpleowl]

I don't know about New England, but the ones here in north Florida just stay all year.  They are in our yard half the time. :p

[MEmama]

I think I usually see them heading south later, maybe in October? I'm not sure September is particularly early depending where you are, though I haven't seen them yet. We are on the Maine coast.

 

I see a few very occasionally in summertime, but never in winter.

[Hunter]

We have a park that doesn't have Geese in the summer, but does have them in the fall. It seemed early to me, and then I heard a man saying, "Uhoh, this is too early".

 

The Handbook of Nature Study says October.

 

It felt off to see them on a 90 degree day.

 

I really should start keeping a notebook of firsts.

[Hunter]

I forget the branch of science that keeps track of when things bloom and migrate. Brain freeze today. So I can't Google it.

 

I am south of Maine. Thank you to those in Maine and Canada for the updates.

[beth83]

I am in Virginia and we have a huge influx with migration. Although we have our few local residents, I haven't seen the masses here, yet.

[Matryoshka]

I forget the branch of science that keeps track of when things bloom and migrate. Brain freeze today. So I can't Google it.

 

I am south of Maine. Thank you to those in Maine and Canada for the updates.

 

Do you know about the website Journey North?   It's an educational website where kids all over the US track the journey of spring north - they follow the migrations of robins and Monarch butterflies, and the blooming of a certain species of tulip (in proper scientific form, the kids plant the same kind of tulip bulbs in the fall to eliminate possible variation in different tulips' blooming time).  They also measure fall's journey south.   Everyone from all over the country plots their observations on a map for a visual way to see things blooming/migrating in real time.

 

The whole thing is free to sign up for.

 

My mom used to do this program with her 2nd graders in ps.  We did the tulips one year.

[Myeightkiddies]

I'm in Ohio.  Here, Canada Geese are year-round residents, especially in my backyard.  :glare: I'll tell them that you are looking for them.  They are pretty, but they each leave droppings the size of a med/large dog.  For some reason around 3 or 4am they love being extremely vocal.

[wintermom]

They aren't Canadian geese. :001_tt2:  They are Canada geese.

 

Signed, 

Someone who grew up in a place famous for them stopping there

 

I thought "Canadian" geese sounded wrong. 

 

Did you grow up in Wawa, Ontario (home of a giant Canada Goose statue) or the Boston Zoo? ;)

[wintermom]

I forget the branch of science that keeps track of when things bloom and migrate. Brain freeze today. So I can't Google it.

 

 

The Farmer's Almanac? ;)

[barnwife]

I thought "Canadian" geese sounded wrong. 

 

Did you grow up in Wawa, Ontario (home of a giant Canada Goose statue) or the Boston Zoo? ;)

Nope to both of those places. But, between having lived a large chunk of my life in a place well-known for their migration and having a dad who worked for the DNR (that's the department of natural resources), the use of "Canadian geese" drives me bonkers.

 

It was just too well drilled into me that it's Canada geese.

[wintermom]

Nope to both of those places. But, between having lived a large chunk of my life in a place well-known for their migration and having a dad who worked for the DNR (that's the department of natural resources), the use of "Canadian geese" drives me bonkers.

 

It was just too well drilled into me that it's Canada geese.

 

So what is this place that is well-known for Canada geese? I'm Canadian and have no clue of where you're referring to. Perhaps it's because they're simply all over Canada, but when they head south they become more concentrated in certain locations.

[Hunter]

Phenology

https://www.usanpn.org/education

 

I don't know why Canadian is stuck in my head. Canada just doesn't sound right to me.

[Hunter]

Do you know about the website Journey North? It's an educational website where kids all over the US track the journey of spring north - they follow the migrations of robins and Monarch butterflies, and the blooming of a certain species of tulip (in proper scientific form, the kids plant the same kind of tulip bulbs in the fall to eliminate possible variation in different tulips' blooming time). They also measure fall's journey south. Everyone from all over the country plots their observations on a map for a visual way to see things blooming/migrating in real time.

 

The whole thing is free to sign up for.

 

My mom used to do this program with her 2nd graders in ps. We did the tulips one year.

I haven't checked this website in awhile. Thanks. There is an app, now.

[3 ladybugs]

Since they are "Canada" geese, can we deport them? 😜 Seriously in my area they are nothing but a nusense and whole industries have sprang up to prevent their waste from polluting too much in one area!

[barnwife]

So what is this place that is well-known for Canada geese? I'm Canadian and have no clue of where you're referring to. Perhaps it's because they're simply all over Canada, but when they head south they become more concentrated in certain locations.

You can take a girl out of the Midwest, but you can't take the Midwest out of a girl! I'd rather not put the name of the town, but it's in Wisconsin.

[Chalex]

Before having kids, DH and I stopped by the Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary (along the St. Lawrence) and watched them feeding the geese.  It was chaos!  All the Canada geese knew what time to drop in, even before the corn tractor started it engine. 

 

Copied from their website:  The Sanctuary's best known customers are without a doubt the Canada Geese. In the fall corn is spread in large areas next to the Visitor's Centre. The feeding program operates daily at 2:30 from mid-September to the last Sunday in October.

 

So that's where they are feasting before heading to you, Hunter.

 

[Hunter]

Last Sunday in October. Good to know!

[wintermom]

You can take a girl out of the Midwest, but you can't take the Midwest out of a girl! I'd rather not put the name of the town, but it's in Wisconsin.

 

Cool. Perhaps the general concensus among geese is, "Fly southwest, turn right at the really big lake."

[Pen]

We are on west coast. Year round residents are present, but migratory groups have not been going past yet. Twice a year the migratory ones travel up and down with great fanfare and honking, though there seem to be fewer and fewer flocks, and smaller ones, each year.  It is not always at exactly the same time of year though and for us can be  in September or October.

 

 I hope the early travel does not indicate that winter will be harsh.

[Guest]

It probably has more to do with particularly good breeding conditions this summer, than anything about this coming winter!

 

They breed as soon as they can. And they molt as soon as they breed (males right away, female five weeks after) (they use their molted feathers to make the nests) so they can't fly all summer. Which is why they are forever walking across roads like dummies.

 

By breeding, and molting sooner, they will regrow their feathers sooner than normal and have the option of flying south in hopes of getting to the good spots before the ones that bred at the normal/later times.

[Hunter]

So walking geese are more likely to resident geese?

[Guest]

So walking geese are more likely to resident geese?

 

Well, currently/recently breeding geese, in any case.

[rutheart]

I'm down in Georgia, and my husband was just commenting this last week that we've had more than normal for this time of year.

Ruth

[wintermom]

I'm down in Georgia, and my husband was just commenting this last week that we've had more than normal for this time of year.

Ruth

 

How about Canadian's of the human variety? There are tons of us who "fly" south for the winter, too!  :laugh:  Not sure if there is as much honking involved.  We usually slip into the States fairly quietly. ;)

[purpleowl]

How about Canadian's of the human variety? There are tons of us who "fly" south for the winter, too! :laugh: Not sure if there is as much honking involved. We usually slip into the States fairly quietly. ;)

You also don't usually take your sweet time walking across busy roads in a group, staring idiotically at the cars waiting for you to pass! Canadian people (or is that Canada people?) are cool with me. ;)

[Another Lynn]

Phenology

https://www.usanpn.org/education

 

I don't know why Canadian is stuck in my head. Canada just doesn't sound right to me.

 

The grammar side of my brain agrees with you!  I want to say Canadian.  (And honestly, I think that's how I've always said it and heard it.)

 

[Guest]

Canadian Geese sounds the rightest :laugh:  Really, though!

[Tawlas]

I live along the Fraser River in BC (waaaaay out of the region you're talking but I thought I'd comment anyhow). It's a huge migratory path for all kinds of animals - land and sky. We've had flocks of geese flying back and forth, north and south, east and west, for weeks now! Crazy, huge flocks of 50 or more, only 2 or 3 at a time. They're very busy, but not actually going anywhere as of yet.

 

I'm planning on starting a Book of Firsts with the kids once we've settled into our new school year's groove, I wish I'd done it years ago now.

[Hunter]

I find phenology easier to implement than identification, as a nature study focus.

[wintermom]

You also don't usually take your sweet time walking across busy roads in a group, staring idiotically at the cars waiting for you to pass! Canadian people (or is that Canada people?) are cool with me. ;)

 

In my area, the Canada geese get quite aggressive, especially during hatching season and when they've still got their young. You're safer meeting up with them while in your car then. Honking, walking and pooping are the least of the worries then.  :leaving:

[Guest]

All geese are prone to aggression. To the point that you can keep them mixed in with other animals on a farm/homestead and use them as a first line of defense against critters with sharp teeth and strange people. They do what a good rooster does, but is much less discerning than a good rooster lol.

[Farrar]

This is a case when what a vintage book has to say about a species is going to be really different from how they are today. They're now primarily an invasive species  in many areas and are very harmful to local birds in many areas, not to mention a major suburban nuisance. Human meddling. We made them forget how to migrate properly.

[Guest]

This is a case when what a vintage book has to say about a species is going to be really different from how they are today. They're now primarily an invasive species  in many areas and are very harmful to local birds in many areas, not to mention a major suburban nuisance. Human meddling. We made them forget how to migrate properly.

 

Yeah and they live longer than ever before because the non-migratory groups have almost no outside pressures. A few cats here and there maybe. But we (human beans) aren't allowed to kill them except under extremely specific circumstances, and we've already killed or driven out almost all their other predators.

 

It's not that they are an invasive species (in the US--they are in Britain!) but rather that they are just supposed to keep on the move, and they don't always get up and go any more because why not stay? No cougars, extra big water run-off areas and man-made ponds. Large, open fields unbroken by diversity. They are getting while the gettin's good.

[Farrar]

Yeah and they live longer than ever before because the non-migratory groups have almost no outside pressures. A few cats here and there maybe. But we (human beans) aren't allowed to kill them except under extremely specific circumstances, and we've already killed or driven out almost all their other predators.

 

It's not that they are an invasive species (in the US--they are in Britain!) but rather that they are just supposed to keep on the move, and they don't always get up and go any more because why not stay? No cougars, extra big water run-off areas and man-made ponds. Large, open fields unbroken by diversity. They are getting while the gettin's good.

 

Yeah, you're right - they're not technically invasive, but they act like an invasive species, destroying other wildlife because their patterns have changed. I'm a huge advocate for killing them, honestly. Preserve the migratory ones encourage them to migrate, cut down the others. They do kill them in some places. I know they clean them out of the National Mall every few years. In the gated community where my father lives, they killed them all a few years ago and then used the meat to make a stew that fed the homeless (also the case for deer kills here in the National Parks - they give the meat to soup kitchens). I think it's become more acceptable for communities to kill them. And I know that some of the laws have changed. My understanding is that at one point - like when I was a kid and they were just establishing themselves as a pest - they were very legally protected and they're much less so now.

[wintermom]

All geese are prone to aggression. To the point that you can keep them mixed in with other animals on a farm/homestead and use them as a first line of defense against critters with sharp teeth and strange people. They do what a good rooster does, but is much less discerning than a good rooster lol.

 

True, though choosing to have geese on a farm is a little different than some Canada geese choosing to hang out at the entrance of your office building.  Some local businesses have taken to using coyote decoys to try and scare off the geese - for the protection of their employees.  

[creekland]

How about Canadian's of the human variety? There are tons of us who "fly" south for the winter, too!  :laugh:  Not sure if there is as much honking involved.  We usually slip into the States fairly quietly. ;)

 

I think Grand Bahama's population is a large percentage Canadian over the winter too.  ;)  We got a chuckle that a couple of branches of Canadian banks are set up there.

 

Smart humans IMO.  We'd do it too if we could afford it.

[Guest]

True, though choosing to have geese on a farm is a little different than some Canada geese choosing to hang out at the entrance of your office building.  Some local businesses have taken to using coyote decoys to try and scare off the geese - for the protection of their employees.  

 

'course. I'm just talkin' turkey 'bout geese :laugh: It's usually one of those animals people, in general, see all the time but know little about.  Like chipmunks.

 

And, of course, we could have just left a little space for actual coyotes around protected (for and against humans) waterways. Too late now.

[Hunter]

Fascinating. Phenology grounds me and urban ecology fascinates me.

[dirty ethel rackham]

True, though choosing to have geese on a farm is a little different than some Canada geese choosing to hang out at the entrance of your office building.  Some local businesses have taken to using coyote decoys to try and scare off the geese - for the protection of their employees.  

And some parks and golf courses bring in dogs to chase away the geese.  The local part district puts up the dog and coyote decoys.  And it is hilarious to see a huge flock of geese sitting in a field around one of these.  The only animals confused by them are the local dogs.  My dog always stops and stares, cocks his head, sniffs, and looks at me ... "It looks like a dog, but it doesn't smell like one.  What gives?"

 

I am confused about people being able to kill them.  I thought they were protected.  I know my brother was fined for hitting one with a golf ball.  Not intentionally.  He teed off at the local course and his ball hit a goose and killed it.  Everyone in his party thought it should have been treated like a hole-in-one - it was such a weird shot. 

[Farrar]

And some parks and golf courses bring in dogs to chase away the geese.  The local part district puts up the dog and coyote decoys.  And it is hilarious to see a huge flock of geese sitting in a field around one of these.  The only animals confused by them are the local dogs.  My dog always stops and stares, cocks his head, sniffs, and looks at me ... "It looks like a dog, but it doesn't smell like one.  What gives?"

 

I am confused about people being able to kill them.  I thought they were protected.  I know my brother was fined for hitting one with a golf ball.  Not intentionally.  He teed off at the local course and his ball hit a goose and killed it.  Everyone in his party thought it should have been treated like a hole-in-one - it was such a weird shot. 

 

I was curious, so I looked it up. Canada Geese are protected by some migratory bird protection act that has been around for a long time. However, property owners can seek permission from the US Fish and Wildlife Agency (I think I got that name right) to kill the ones on a property and they are increasingly giving that permission since many of them are no longer migratory. Additionally, the government itself kills them when they're living near airports or in some public parks and the like.

[AmyontheFarm]

A flock of them landed in my cattle pasture last night.  They left this morning heading for the states.  I'm in Canada about 30 minutes from Detroit.  So, I think they might be on their way.

[Hunter]

I never paid as much attention to geese as I am now. I just know that in this one park, they are not there in the summer, and then one day, they are there. Instead of being migratory, maybe they just have a better place to be in the summer, or don't like this park in the summer.

 

I'm going to have to ask some questions and pay a bit more attention. Maybe they are not migratory.

[KSinNS]

So Atlantic Canada had a very weird year for weather, which may have thrown them off. Our spring was extremely late (like almost a month late) to the point that there were major migratory bird deaths (no food). Maybe they decided to stay in Maine (sensible birds) where you guys have a much earlier spring. That being said, Canada geese are tough, and we've seen lots of them here. 

[Saddlemomma]

My husband is an avid hunter of geese, so we keep a close eye on the flocks.

 

Up here in northern Maine, early goose season starts September 1st to the 25th. Then the regular seasons starts Oct. 1 - 21st. However, we've noticed that temperature makes a huge difference in the behavior of the geese.  

 

Last year, we had an extremely warm September.  We saw very few geese flying.  They pretty much stayed north of us in Presque Isle, Caribou and Canada.  I think my DH only got two during the early season and it was at the tail end.  In mid-October, the weather finally turned cooler and the geese started moving.  DH got the bulk of his geese during the regular season.

 

This year, we've had both hot, sunny days (74 - 84 degrees) with no geese flying; then overcast, cool days (in the low to mid 60's) and we'll see several flocks flying.  DH went out hunting on one of our cool, rainy days and got two geese.  When he got home, while cleaning the two he got, four small groups of geese flew right over our farm.  The next day was 76 degrees and sunny - no geese flying, but there we many sitting lakes and ponds.

 

Most of the September geese are local geese (those that are already in the area and not moving in from the north).  October is when we see the geese coming through from the north of us.  Yesterday we travelled to Presque Isle to attend our church picnic, go apple picking, and visit with friends.  There were hundreds of geese just sitting on the lakes and ponds we passed.  It was exciting to see them all -- but we never saw or heard one in the sky the whole day. It was too sunny and warm.

 

This year my DH opted to participate in a study for the US Dept. of the Interior - Division of Migratory Bird Management.  He is pulling the tail feathers and clipping the first 3 flight feathers of each bird he harvests.  He'll get a report at the end of the year that will tell him the age and health of each goose he harvested.  This info helps to responsibly manage the population and control disease.

 

For anyone who doesn't know, goose is a wonderful meat.  It's dark, red meat with very little fat (although the geese DH harvests in Oct. has more fat than the September ones) and therefore extremely low in cholesterol.  Since DH is allergic to beef, goose is a wonderful substitute to supplement our protein and tastes great.  In fact, cooked in stews or the crock-pot, it tastes and looks just like beef.  We also like to bread it lightly and fry it - like liver, although it will taste more like steak.  When frying it, you should never cook it well-done.  It should be pink inside or it may be tough as nails.