Virtual Learning Center


The following photos are from our friend Terry Shaw’s private collection.

Canada Goose with neck band
Canada Goose with leg band
Canada Goose Family
Canada Goose nest

The feathers in the nest are plucked from the mother’s belly.

Fun Facts

  • Named for John Canada, the ornithologist who separated the species from other geese.
  • The Canada goose is Connecticut’s largest native waterfowl species, weighing between 6 and 13 pounds and measuring 22-48 inches.
  • They eat grains and seeds, but also aquatic plants or insects.
  • They pair up by size and tend to pair for life, nesting in fields or brushy areas.
  • Canada Geese are sometimes considered a nuisance due to their droppings.
  • Canada Geese are migratory, but there is also a population that remains in CT all year.
  • They generally migrate at a speed of 40 mph, but can go up to 70 mph with a strong tail wind. They are typically seen flying in the V formation honking overhead , true harbingers of fall.
  • The geese are banded so scientists can learn more about their behavior. If you should see a banded goose report it on the following website: https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/bird-banding/reward-bands.php

Some of the other Geese you may see in CT are shown below.

(Photos of Snow Geese and Brant Geese are also from Terry Shaw.)

Brant Goose
Brant Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose dark morph
Snow Goose and Red-tailed Hawk
Barnacle Goose
Barnacle Geese
Barnacle Geese
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