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