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Posted on April 6, 2020

Geese are on the move! How many have you spotted?

Goose alone in pond

Canada Geese are found throughout North America, where they make their homes in wetland areas — lakes, ponds, larger streams, and marshes. Their breeding grounds are found over ecological varied areas, from prairies and plains to mountains. 

Mother goose with gosling

In the Spring

Canada Geese can be very adaptable when it comes to choosing their nesting areas. Nests are normally made near bodies of water and are fashioned from sticks and grasses with an inner lining of down feathers. Nesting begins in late March and early April. 

Usually, four to eight eggs are laid, one per day, and are incubated together once they are all laid. The incubation period lasts from 26-28 days and is done solely by the female, or the goose. The male, or gander, is primarily responsible for guarding the nest from potential predators. 

Goose facing camera

How do you tell a goose from a gander?

Often the female is the one incubating the eggs while the male is nearby protecting the unhatched. Otherwise, it is usually impossible to determine gender at a glance because they look exactly the same. The females do not need to be camouflaged because they are capable of defending themselves, and the males do not need brightly coloured plumage because the birds mate for life.

Learn the language of geese. Get the Goose Guide.