Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
A goose family we found near a pond.
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia [21]
Phylum: Chordata [21]
Class: Aves [21]
Order: Anseriformes [21]
Family: Anatidae [21]
Genus : Branta [21]
Species: B. canadensis [21]
The Canadad Goose is also known as Branta canadensis in its scientific term [21]. It is is a wild goose that is unique in having the brownish-grey body with a black neck, bill, and head with white patches and strip under the chin [5]. A white half-circle just above the black tail appears during flight and these colour patterns are considered unique to this species [5]. They also like to walk. They may look very similar but it is believed that there are as many as eleven different races of Canada goose [5]. Although both female and male are similar to each other in colour, females are usually smaller than the males. The average mass of the Canada Goose is one to four kilograms [5].
Kingdom: Animalia [21]
Phylum: Chordata [21]
Class: Aves [21]
Order: Anseriformes [21]
Family: Anatidae [21]
Genus : Branta [21]
Species: B. canadensis [21]
The Canadad Goose is also known as Branta canadensis in its scientific term [21]. It is is a wild goose that is unique in having the brownish-grey body with a black neck, bill, and head with white patches and strip under the chin [5]. A white half-circle just above the black tail appears during flight and these colour patterns are considered unique to this species [5]. They also like to walk. They may look very similar but it is believed that there are as many as eleven different races of Canada goose [5]. Although both female and male are similar to each other in colour, females are usually smaller than the males. The average mass of the Canada Goose is one to four kilograms [5].
People might misunderstand that Canada geese are only found in Canada because they are named for it. However, they are found all over North America at various times of the year. During the summer time, Canada geese make their homes throughout most of Canada, Alaska, and the northern United States [5]. It is known that some northern populations even make the trip over to Greenland. During the winter time, most Canada geese make their way to the mid and southern United States, while many stay in southern Canada [5]. However, some even go extra mile and fly all the way to northern Mexico [5]. Many tend to like low areas with open water as it guarantees safety from predators. Same reason why they like upland areas near water for nesting. Quite often, some are found to nest on an island [5].
Canada Geese are primarily herbivores as their diet includes green vegetation and grains [5]. However, they sometimes eat small insects and fish [5]. Canada Geese eat a variety of grasses and feed by grasping a blade of grass with the bill, then tearing it with a jerk of the head [5]. They also feed from slit at the botton of the body of water [5]. However, they also eat grains such as wheat, beans, rice, and corn when available. In urban areas, it is known that they pick food out of garbage bins. They usually spend up to 12 hours a day eating [5].
Breeding
Canada geese do not breed until they reach two or three years of age [5]. Breeding takes place earlier in the year than it does for most birds in order for their young to hatch right when the plant food they need is in its prime [5]. When it comes to choosing a nesting site to lay the eggs, the female always returns to the same area where her parents nested [5]. Once the eggs are laid, the female incubates them until they hatch around 28 days later [5]. During the nesting and incubation period, the male stays near the nest and guards the female and the eggs. If a predator comes, the male will attempt to protect the nest by luring the predator away. The Goslings are raised by both of their parents and the family spends all of its time together for a full year after they hatch [5].
Human Impact
Humans and Canada geese frequent the same places such as beaches, shorlines, lakes, etc [19]. Due to this fact, there can be conflicts. Especially during breeding season, the adults become very sensitive and aggresive. Humans can interfere with the geese easily just by taking a walk or interrupting their feeding, or sleeping.
Canada geese and other migratory waterfowl species make use of natural wetlands as habitat [19]. However, Canada's wetlands continue to disappear and it is known that about 70 per cent of Canada's original wetlands have been lost in many areas of the country [19]. Threats to wetlands include industrial threats, pollution, etc [19]. Humans drain wetlands for commercial development, including tourism facilities, or agricultural land [19]. This causes the water level drop, resulting millions of trees and organisms die as they are deprived of their life-sustaining supplies [19]. Pollution in wetlands is a problem as it affects biological diversity [19]. The contaminated water can affect the health and reproduction of species [19]. Also while humans think we are doing the geese a favour by feeding them with our left overs, we really aren't. Geese migrates in the winter to the south in search of food, by feeding them, we are interrupting with their feeding cycle. Since they have found a source of food, us, they do not migrate to the south, but they have not evolved to tolerate the cold temperatures of the northern winter, and they suffer from the cold.
The increase in the populations of Canada geese can bring issues among people. They leave large quantities of feces and molted feathers, which are considered health risks to humans [5]. Also, they are frequently found on golf courses, parking lots and urban parks. In many areas, Canada Geeses are now considered as pests by humans [19]. As a result, many methods were introduced to control the population of the geese. These methods include ending the hand-feeding of geese, using chemical repellents, scaring the geese, creating barriers, removing nesting materials, destroying eggs, and regulated hunting [19]. Many of these methods are considered very humane and selfish to organisms. The fact that humans are superior to other organisms must not exist.
Canada geese and other migratory waterfowl species make use of natural wetlands as habitat [19]. However, Canada's wetlands continue to disappear and it is known that about 70 per cent of Canada's original wetlands have been lost in many areas of the country [19]. Threats to wetlands include industrial threats, pollution, etc [19]. Humans drain wetlands for commercial development, including tourism facilities, or agricultural land [19]. This causes the water level drop, resulting millions of trees and organisms die as they are deprived of their life-sustaining supplies [19]. Pollution in wetlands is a problem as it affects biological diversity [19]. The contaminated water can affect the health and reproduction of species [19]. Also while humans think we are doing the geese a favour by feeding them with our left overs, we really aren't. Geese migrates in the winter to the south in search of food, by feeding them, we are interrupting with their feeding cycle. Since they have found a source of food, us, they do not migrate to the south, but they have not evolved to tolerate the cold temperatures of the northern winter, and they suffer from the cold.
The increase in the populations of Canada geese can bring issues among people. They leave large quantities of feces and molted feathers, which are considered health risks to humans [5]. Also, they are frequently found on golf courses, parking lots and urban parks. In many areas, Canada Geeses are now considered as pests by humans [19]. As a result, many methods were introduced to control the population of the geese. These methods include ending the hand-feeding of geese, using chemical repellents, scaring the geese, creating barriers, removing nesting materials, destroying eggs, and regulated hunting [19]. Many of these methods are considered very humane and selfish to organisms. The fact that humans are superior to other organisms must not exist.